The Value of Socialized Medicine: The Impact of Universal Primary Healthcare Provision on Birth and Mortality Rates in Turkey

67 Pages Posted: 22 Sep 2015

See all articles by Resul Cesur

Resul Cesur

Georgia State University - Department of Economics

Pinar Mine Gunes

University of Alberta

Erdal Tekin

Georgia State University - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Aydogan Ulker

Deakin University

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of universal, free, and easily accessible primary healthcare on population health as measured by age-specific birth and mortality rates, focusing on a nationwide socialized medicine program implemented in Turkey. The Family Medicine Program (FMP), launched in 2005, assigns each Turkish citizen to a specific state-employed family physician, who offers a wide range of primary healthcare services that are free-of-charge. Furthermore, these services are provided at family health centers, which operate on a walk-in basis and are located within the neighborhoods in close proximity to the patients. To identify the causal impact of the FMP, we exploit the variation in its introduction across provinces and over time. Our estimates indicate that the FMP caused large declines in mortality rates across all age groups with more pronounced impacts among infants and the elderly, and a moderate reduction in the birth rates, primarily among teenagers. Furthermore, the results are suggestive that the program has also contributed towards equalization in the mortality disparities across provinces. Our findings highlight the importance of a nationwide supply-side intervention on improving public health.

Keywords: healthcare, reform, socialized, medicine, health, Turkey, infant, mortality, birth, teenager, physician

JEL Classification: I0, I1, I11, I13, I14, I18, J13, J14

Suggested Citation

Cesur, Resul and Mine Gunes, Pinar and Tekin, Erdal and Ulker, Aydogan, The Value of Socialized Medicine: The Impact of Universal Primary Healthcare Provision on Birth and Mortality Rates in Turkey. IZA Discussion Paper No. 9329, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2663759 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2663759

Resul Cesur (Contact Author)

Georgia State University - Department of Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 3992
Atlanta, GA 30302-3992
United States

Pinar Mine Gunes

University of Alberta ( email )

Edmonton, T6G 2R3
Canada

Erdal Tekin

Georgia State University - Department of Economics ( email )

University Plaza
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Atlanta, GA 30303
United States
404-651-3968 (Phone)
404-651-4985 (Fax)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Aydogan Ulker

Deakin University ( email )

75 Pigdons Road
Victoria, 3216
Australia

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
83
Abstract Views
988
Rank
537,046
PlumX Metrics