Iversen T
University of Oslo, Centre for Health Administration, National Hospital, Norway.
J Health Econ. 1997 Aug;16(4):381-96. doi: 10.1016/s0167-6296(96)00518-8.
This article examines the effect of a private sector on the waiting time associated with treatment in a public hospital. Without rationing of waiting-list admissions, a private sector is shown to result in a longer waiting time if the demand for a public treatment is sufficiently elastic with respect to the waiting time. When waiting-list admissions are rationed, the waiting time is shown to increase if the public sector consultants are permitted to work in the private sector in their spare time.
