Efficiency Frontiers in Treating Lifestyle Diseases

Abstract Research background: Following a rational health policy by the state is tantamount to having knowledge of society’s health status and health affecting factors. It has become particularly important to focus on the 21st century diseases resulting in premature deaths. That objective dominated the 2016 Act on Public Health and the 2016–2020 National Health Programme connected with it. Purpose: The aim of the paper is to present the results of an analysis concerning hospitals’ technical efficiency assessment in treating diseases of civilization in Poland by provinces. A BCC model with a changing effects of scale and the DEA method were applied, using linear programming. Results: The received results of assessing the technical efficiency of patient treatment related to diseases of civilization from the temporal and spatial point of view may serve as a basis for decisions on regional policy creation. Novelty: Interest in measuring production factors of healthcare activity and outcomes may be ascribed to increased care about costs borne in the sector and pressure on responsible management in the public sphere. Thus, planning appropriate actions aimed at maintaining and improving public health leads to the rational use of funds and improved lives of the population.