Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the performance of OECD countries based on health expenditure and outcomes indicators by using TOPSIS method which is one of the multi criteria decision making techniques. Another aim of the study is to determine the level of Turkey among OECD countries in terms of health outcomes and expenditures. The research universe of the study is composed of OECD countries. The research sample was not selected and all 35 OECD countries were included in this study. Research data were obtained from OECD database. MS office excel program was used in the analysis of the research data. Two health expenditures and four health outcome indicators were used to measure the performance of OECD countries. These variables are as follows; expenditure on health of gross domestic product (%), expenditure on health per capita (US$), life expectancy total population at birth (years), ınfant mortality deaths per 1 000 live births, potential years of life lost per 100 000 females, potential years of life lost per 100 000 males. TOPSIS method was used in the analysis of the research data. Also, multidimensional analysis of the health expenditure, life expectancy and ınfant mortality variables used in the research was carried out by 35 OECD countries. With respect to the findings of the research data, the average performance score of OECD countries was found to as 0.6900. According to health expenditure and outcomes indicators, Solovenia (0.8250), Korea (0.8155) and Israel (0.8113) was found to have the highest performance scores, while the United States (0.3597), Mexico (0.4319) and Turkey (0.5481) was determined to have the lowest performance scores When the performance of OECD countries is evaluated according TOPSIS, the reason for the difference in performance among countries is that some countries ' performance indicators are very low or very high compared to the average. For example, infant mortality rates are the two highest (Turkey and Mexico) in 35 OECD countries. Turkey in the last 10 years in the infant mortality rate significant gains have been achieved and infant mortality has been considerably reduced but has not yet reached the desired level. Health expenditure is one of the most important factors affecting health outcomes. In addition to health expenditure, many factors influence health outcomes, such as tobacco and alcohol use, access to health services, quality of health services, education, employment, income level, community safety, air and drinking water quality.

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