Socioeconomic inequalities in waiting times for planned and cancer surgery: Evidence from Spain

Abstract

Many OECD countries consider waiting times as a significant health policy issue (Siciliani et al., 2013 ). Publicly-funded health systems, with excess demand due to capacity constraints and limited or no co-payments, rely on waiting times as a form of non-price rationing to reach equilibrium between the demand for and the supply of health services (Martin & Smith, 1999).The main justification for rationing public healthcare by waiting times, rather than price, is that access to health services should not depend on ability to pay. Instead, patients in equal need, severity or complexity should wait the same, irrespective of their ability to pay or geographic and social characteristics such as distance from the hospital and socioeconomic status (SES).

Predictors of same day cancellation of elective surgery

“…Estimated household income was calculated for each patient based upon the median household income of their zip code, as reported in US Census data. Household income was assessed as a potential risk factor for same day cancellation based on prior studies demonstrating that patients of lower household income and socioeconomic status are at increased risk for surgery cancellation (Bosque-Mercader et al 2023, Tan et al 2019). Perioperative details assessed included American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) score (classified as < 3 vs ⩾ 3) and whether the patient underwent preoperative medical clearance at the institution’s pre-anaesthesia testing (PAT) centre.…”

Building Health across Generations: Unraveling the Impact of Early Childcare on Maternal Health

“…First, we contribute to the literature on the impact of family policies, more precisely childcare policies, on (parental) health. There is a large field of literature assessing the effects of various family policies, including parental leave (e.g., Danzer et al, 2022, Danzer & Lavy, 2018, informal care (e.g., Barschkett et al, 2021, del Boca et al, 2018, and formal childcare (e.g., Baker et al, 2008, Barschkett, 2022, Bosque-Mercader, 2022, Cattan et al, 2021, van den Berg & Siflinger, 2022 on various child outcomes, including health. Much less is known about the effects of such reforms on parents, beyond labour supply (e.g., Ginja et al, 2020, Huber & Rolvering, 2023, Müller & Wrohlich, 2020 and fertility (e.g., Bauernschuster et al, 2016, Lalive & Zweimüller, 2009.…”