Tariff Criteria for health services based on health economics principles in the capital city hospitals (field study)

Abstract

The objective of the research is to study the standards, on which the health services Tariff policy in hospitals is based on, and  to study the theoretical bases for pricing according to the actual cost in private and governmental hospitals for health services, and to study the factors affecting health service pricing. The study used a descriptive analytical method, using a questionnaire distributed to 67 employees in departments responsible for pricing and planning from financial and marketing departments in some Yemeni hospitals. The data was    collected   and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Interviews were  also  conducted  with persons responsible for health service Tariff, and some data and information were   collected from the Ministry of Health. The research reached several results, the most important of which is the following: The lack of awareness of those in charge of pricing health services in Yemeni hospitals to take into account economic criteria when pricing the services provided by them. The pricing process in private hospitals is almost based on limiting the cost without taking into account the rest of the pricing criteria such as competition, quality, clarity and approval of marketing operations in private hospitals.
 The   research  concluded  with sevrac  important  recommendations, including the need for clear and specific pricing standards for health services in Yemeni hospitals, the formation of an integrated team  specialized in pricing health services according to the principles of health economics, the use of experiences of regional and international dcvelopeol countries in this regard to the applicable of the country's financial capabilities, and the importance of pricing policies for raising the efficiency of health services and the health sector, increasing the satisfaction of beneficiaries of health services, and increasing their demand for therapeutic and preventive health services through the use of promotional prices. It also recommends obligating public or private Yemeni hospitals to apply prices determined by the Ministry of public Health and population and tightening the control regularly and continuously to ensure that the tariff are applied.