AIM: In this study, it was aimed to demonstrate the geographic imbalances of human resources for health of Turkey, in the case of physicians by using some inequality indicators emphasizing the generally neglected concept; equity.
METHOD: Inequality in geographic distribution of physicians and equity was evaluated by using Lorenz and concentration curves and Gini and Gini based indices. Under-five mortality per population was used as a proxy indicator for the health care need of the population. Geographic units were the provinces of Turkey.
RESULTS: Gini Index for the physician distribution among the provinces in 2010 was calculated as 0.14. Ranking the population from the lowest through the highest physician density, the first quintile of the population had 13.6% of the total physicians; in contrast they had 32.9% of under-five deaths. The fifth quintile had 28.0% of physicians but they had only 13.8% of under-five deaths. Kakwani Progressivity Index for under-five deaths was -0.34.
CONCLUSION: This study showed that the geographic distributional disparities can be quantified by using Kakwani Progressivity Index on an equitable basis. Not only the health manpower density but also the different health care need indicators should be taken into account in the planning of human resources for health and the achievements should be monitored by the methods used in this study