ECONiX has released a detailed report titled “Assessment Report on Turkish Public Health Insurance Expenditures 2023,” which provides an in-depth analysis of Turkiye’s public health insurance system under the Social Security Institution (SGK). According to the report, there was a 4.83% increase in the number of prescriptions paid by SGK in 2023 compared to the previous year. Additionally, General Health Insurance (GSS) premium revenues reached 520,435,237,000₺ in 2023, marking a 29.18% increase from 2022. The report reveals that the GSS premium revenues exceeded expenditures by 20.7% in 2023, resulting in a budget surplus of 107,903,026,172 TL, a significant increase of 153.1% compared to the previous year.
The primary goal of this research is to analyze the changes in various factors affecting the budget of the General Health Insurance system in Turkiye for the year 2023. These factors include the number of hospital visits, costs of these visits, number of prescriptions, and costs of prescriptions. Data for this analysis were sourced from official statistics available on sgk.gov.tr and muhasebat.hmb.gov.tr, and descriptive analyses were performed using Microsoft Office 360 Excel. The findings were interpreted by experts in the field.
Increase in Hospital Visits and Prescription Costs Post-COVID Highlighted in 2023 Analysis
The report highlights that there was an increase in the number of hospital visits following the alleviation of COVID-19 pandemic effects in 2021. In 2022, with the substantial reduction of pandemic impacts, hospital visit numbers surged significantly. In 2023, hospital visits peaked in January and then remained stable throughout the year, with a total of 606,689,000 visits by December.
The cost of hospital visits consistently increased from 2021 to 2023. The increase rate accelerated starting from August 2023, with the total costs amounting to 207,167,253 TL by December 2023. There was a general upward trend in the number of prescriptions from May 2021, with notable fluctuations in 2023. The total number of prescriptions reached 482,234 by December 2023. The cost of prescriptions also saw a rising trend from the second half of 2021 onwards. In 2023, despite fluctuations, prescription costs peaked in December, with a total of 205,364,958 TL for the year.
Health Insurance Report: SGK Budget Analysis Highlights Financial Efficiency and Surplus in 2023
The report also provides a comprehensive budget analysis, indicating that SGK spent 29.4 billion TL more on its drug budget and 153.9 billion TL less on healthcare services than projected in 2023. The total budget for SGK in 2023 was set at 537 billion TL, with actual spending reaching 412,532,210,828 TL. The surplus in GSS premium revenues over expenditures has been evident since 2015. In 2023, the surplus accounted for 20.73% of the total budget.
This comprehensive report underscores the evolving dynamics of Turkiye’s public health insurance expenditures and highlights the financial health and efficiency of the SGK system in managing its resources amidst changing healthcare demands. For further details and to access the full report, please visit the ECONiX Research website.
Research: ECONiX Research, July 18, 2024
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