Income-related inequality in utilization of health services in Denmark: evidence from Funen County.

AIMS

To examine income-related inequity in utilization of healthcare services in Denmark.

METHODS

A health survey of 2,915 respondents in Funen County interviewed in 2000 and 2001 on health status and socioeconomic and sociodemographic characteristics was merged with various computerized registers including inpatient stays, ambulatory visits, contacts in the primary healthcare sector, and prescription medicine. The index of horizontal inequity was used to estimate the degree of horizontal inequity in utilization of healthcare services across income groups, using the indirect method of standardization to control for age, gender, and self-assessed health as a proxy for need. The standardization method rests on the assumption of equal response behaviour across income groups.

RESULTS

The least advantaged with respect to income consume a bigger share of the health services than the most advantaged with the exception of dental treatments where the opposite is true. After standardization for age, gender, and health status there is no significant inequity in use of all healthcare services. However, when it comes to specific healthcare services the least advantaged have a significantly lower share of the medicine consumption and dental treatments than expected.

CONCLUSION

The index of horizontal inequity suggests that the Danish healthcare system is in general equitable. In sectors with a high degree of co-payment some horizontal inequity disfavouring the lower income groups appears to be present.