Living Standards Measurements Study - Serbia 2002 - 2007

7.5. Use of Health Care Services
according to type and serviceownership
In 2007, 27 percent of the population used
outpatient health services, 9 percent used dental
services (use of outpatient and dental health services
is for the month preceding the study) and 6 percent
were hospitalized in the preceding 12 months. In
2007, the population used outpatient and dental
services more frequently than in 2003 (23 percent
and 7 percent). Hospital treatment remained at more
or less the same level (6 percent in 2007 and 5
percent in 2003).
In 2007, 29 percent of the population of Serbia
used the services of state health institutions and 6
percent of private health institutions. In comparison
with 2003 (state institutions 27 percent and private
health institutions 5 percent) there was an increase
in the percentage of the population that used health
services only in state institutions. Those living
below the poverty line used state health services
considerably less than those from the non-poor
group (23 percent compared to 30 percent) and
hardly any (0.7 percent) used private health
services. The more prosperous population in the
fifth quintile used private institutions health services
more than twice as much as the overall population
(14 percent compared to 6 percent) (Graph 4).
Differences in the use of health services were
more marked in outpatient health institutions (state
institutions were used by 27 percent and private
only by 1 percent) as well as with hospital treatment
which was almost exclusively performed in state
institutions (6 percent state and 0.1 percent private).
A closer distribution of use was observed in dental
health care services where 4 percent of the
population used state services and 5 percent private
dental services.
Outpatient health care services. Women,
respondents aged 45 and 59 years, 60+ used
outpatient health services more than the overall
population (27 percent). Residents of Belgrade and
South East Serbia used these services more often (30
percent and 29 percent) compared to those in West
and East Serbia (23 percent and 24 percent).
Households below the poverty line (21 percent) and
the uninsured (21 percent) Roma (22 percent) used
outpatient health services considerably less (Graph
5).
Health
Graph 7.4. Health service use according to type
of health institutions ownership (percent)
% population
Gender
Age
Type of
settlement
Poverty
line
Quantiles of consalla
Insurance
Total
Male
Female
0 - 14
15 - 29
30 - 44
45 - 59
60+
Urban
Rural
Non poor
Poor
Poorest
2
3
4
Richest
Yes
No
Roma
Refugees &
IDPs
Unemployed
0 15 30 45 60
6
5
6
3
8
13
7
18
4
4
1
2
3
4
4
6
6
7
6
6
14
Dental health care services. Those in the
youngest age group (0 to 14 years) visited dentists
more frequently (13 percent compared to 9 percent
of the overall population) and most frequently
dentists in state health institutions. The data is very
indicative since at this age it is of the utmost
importance that state provides the best available
service so that children can eliminate their problems
on time, securing better dental health in the future.
25
23
22
26
29
30
28
30
28
27
25
34
32
32
30
31
30
25
9
18
5
State institutions
Private institutions
54
87