Equity in the use of health care services is an issue which has increasingly been on the health policy agenda in recent years in almost all countries. The aim of this study is to examine equity in the use of health care services in Turkey (separately for outpatient and inpatient care services) using Health Surveys for the years 2008, 2010 and 2012 obtained from the Turkish Statistical Institute by employing the Gini index. The results indicate that individuals belonging to the lower income group in the use of health services in Turkey are disadvantaged and, which implies the existence of inequity. The change of the Gini index by years indicates that 2010 is the year when the inequity is at its lowest level. It is observed that the degree of inequity for outpatient and inpatient health care services increased after 2010. However, the level of inequity for outpatient care continued to decline after 2010. In 2012, it is observed that the degree of inequity at its highest level for inpatient health care services.
Key words: Equity, Health care utilization, Gini index. Jel Codes: I12, I14, D63. Article Language: EnglishTurkish
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