The Efficiency of Health Services in the Provinces of the Ottoman State: The Year 1897

This study examines technical efficiency scores in producing health outcomes of hospital discharges and hospital visits for the twenty-eight Ottoman State provinces. We measure efficiency scores by implementing data envelopment analysis using the first statistical yearbook of the Ottoman State for 1897. Our findings indicate that some provinces achieve relative efficiency, including Dersaadet, Jerusalem, Adana, and Aydın with good health outcomes, Biga and Benghazi with moderate health outcomes, and Yemen with lousy health outcomes. Our results also suggest that inefficient provinces can substantially reduce their inputs without reducing hospital discharges and maintaining the same hospital visits. As a result, this study measures the efficiency of health services in the Ottoman State for 1897.