Levels and Determinants of Health System Efficiency in Latin America and the Caribbean

This technical note reports on the results of a study that seeks to identify the levels of efficiency and their possible determinants across Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) health systems, as well as to provide insights into the quantitative influence of these potential determinants on observed levels of health system efficiency in the region. The study uses state-of-the-art developments in data envelopment analysis (DEA) as the cornerstone method to analyze the links between efficiency in the achievement of health system objectives and certain system characteristics at the country level. Key findings are that there is substantial room for efficiency improvements in the health system of most LAC countries.