(Measurement of technical efficiency and productivity of SSO hospitals in Tehran Province based on nonparametric method (DEA

Introduction: The main goal of economic enterprises ever has been obtaining the maximum outputs from minimum available resources; this subject refers to efficiency and productivity in enterprises. Limitation of resources in health economy is assumed as the most important cause for attention to efficiency and productivity in all managerial contexts particularly hospitals. Analysis method: In this paper, technical and managerial efficiency, scale and productivity variations of all Social Security Organization’s hospitals in Tehran Province within 1388-91 were measured. Hence, for measuring the efficiency and productivity of hospitals, data envelopment analysis (DEA) and Malmquist index were used. Results: out of 13 SSO hospitals in Tehran Province during estimation of productivity, 2 hospitals have experienced positive growth averagely and 11 other hospitals experienced negative productivity within 1388-91. On the other side, trend of technical efficiencies and total productivity and its elements over time doesn’t follow a specified process and average productivity variations in plenty of time periods altogether shows an upward trend and only within 1389-90 experienced a downward trend. It may be due to lack of technology improvement within this period. Conclusion: Averagely, SSO hospitals failed to obtain the appropriate technical efficacy level. Among them, 12 Bahman Hospital excluding in 1390, had an appropriate technical efficiency in comparison to other hospitals. During these years, productivity of total production factors of hospitals showed a negative growth of 5.8% averagely. It may be due to negative growth of 0.8% in technology and positive growth of 2.4% in technology efficiency. On the other side, it was specified that considering malmquist index, inappropriate trend in productivity of SSO hospitals of Tehran Province due to lack of technology improvement.