Background: Public district hospitals (PDHs) in Tunisia are not operating at full plant capacity and underutilize
their operating budget.
Methods: Individual PDHs capacity utilization (CU) is measured for 2000 and 2010 using dual data envelopment
analysis (DEA) approach with shadow prices input and output restrictions. The CU is estimated for 101 of 105 PDH
in 2000 and 94 of 105 PDH in 2010.
Results: In average, unused capacity is estimated at 18% in 2010 vs. 13% in 2000. Of PDHs 26% underutilize their
operating budget in 2010 vs. 21% in 2000.
Conclusion: Inadequate supply, health quality and the lack of operating budget should be tackled to reduce unmet
user’s needs and the bypassing of the PDHs and, thus to increase their CU. Social health insurance should be turned
into a direct purchaser of curative and preventive care for the PDHs