Capacity planning in health care: a review of the international experience
New policy brief on capacity planning
Stefanie Ettelt, Ellen Nolte, Sarah Thomson, Nicholas Mays, and the International Healthcare Comparisons Network
World Health Organization on behalf of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
Policy Brief No.13, February 2008
“….. This policy brief reviews approaches to capacity planning, a crucial component of health care governance. By concentrating on a selection of countries as diverse as Canada, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and New Zealand, it aims to show a range of approaches to health care financing and organization, since both of these factors have an impact on approaches to capacity planning….”
Country Lead responsibility for capacity planning
Canada: Planning is the responsibility of the provinces/territories, guided in some cases by national frameworks, with participation from local authorities
Denmark: Regions and municipalities plan different areas of health care autonomously, with some central supervision
England : National and regional planning is directed by the central government with the participation of local authorities
Finland: Planning is the responsibility of municipalities and hospital districts (formed by municipalities)
France :Regional hospital agencies plan hospital care within a centrally determined framework in consultation with regional stakeholders
Germany: Länder (state) governments plan hospital capacity on the basis of national and regional legislation in consultation with regional stakeholders
Italy: Regional governments plan health care (mainly hospital care), using a national health plan as a guide
Netherlands: Regional provider organizations plan acute hospital care (subject to approval from the central government)
New Zealand:Responsibility for planning is shared by the central government and the DHBs