Expenses for health services and their funding in Turkey

Health is a basic element of social capital. The level of health in a society is an important determinant of the level of human capital, and therefore, economic and social development. Therefore, health services constitute one of the primary services for both individuals and the society. Heath economics is a sub-discipline of economics studying the determinants of demand for and supply of health services, cost of health services, and the methods of financing health services. This study analyzes the determinants of demand for and supply of health services. In addition, the study investigates basic methods of financing health services, how health system should be organized to provide a high-quality, sustainable, and low-cost health services, and the proposed financing methods. In this framework, on the basis of a set of selected indicators, the study also examines heath expenditures and its determinants in Turkey, and evaluates health services financing in Turkey with a reference to health services transformation program.