Quantification and comparison of avoidable mortality – causal relations and modification of concepts

Abstract

The fundamental criticism of the analyses of relations between the allocated sources into healthcare system and general indicators of health status (represented by mortality) form a concept of avoidable mortality. The concept is a result of a reaction of many specialists in this field. The efficient concept of avoidable mortality that consists of treatable and preventable mortality components should provide prominent information that is not directly absorbed in the metrics of general mortality rate traditionally used for measuring the healthcare systems' outputs. Permanent evaluation of the concept is based on confrontation of actual and relevant facts and supported by significant evidence from analytical outputs. This evaluation may help to form an efficient tool for measuring the amenable mortality with system connections as within health care system so in social policy, long-term health care policy, etc. The aim of this article is an analysis and evaluation of avoidable mortality development at conceptual and evaluative level and a specification of advantages and limitations that result from this concept. The analyses' outputs represent a valuable platform for revision of strategic framework of the Slovak healthcare as well as for formation of targeted policies that focus on increase of healthcare system efficiency.

Keywords:

• avoidable mortality
• treatable mortality
• preventable mortality
• healthcare system efficiency
• age–standardised death rates (ASDR)
• medical interventions

JEL Classification:

• I10
• I14
• I15
• I18

Additional information

Michal SOLTES, Assoc. Prof., PhD is an expert in finance, financial analysis and financial risk management. He worked in several national and international projects. In recent years, his research activities devoted to the issue of systems of public and private health insurance, financial management in healthcare, modeling the efficiency of the health system and information and communication technologies in healthcare.

Beata GAVUROVA, Assoc. Prof., PhD. MBA is an expert in finance and economics of the public sector. In her scientific and research work especially focuses on the area of performance measurement and management in the public sector, process management and process optimalization, strategic and performance benchmarking, health policy, demographic analyses and solution of regional disparities in the health system, availability of healthcare in the Slovak regions, formation of regional policy concepts – strategic aims, etc. She also participates in the formation of a strategic framework of healthcare system in Slovakia. The outputs from her analysis provide a platform to set the legislative process in the field of medical and social services. She actively coordinates the various project activities in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, as well as with the Institute of Health Policy of the Slovak Republic, National Health Information Center, and with the other institutions.