The relationship between democracy and corruption and the global physician workforce

Bibliographic Data

ID19594024
AuthorsAmrit Kirpalani (0000-0001-7567-9052, Western University, corresponding author), Eray Yilmaz (0009-0002-4872-8327, Western University, corresponding author)
EditorsMuhammad Naveed Noor (0000-0002-7847-6637)
Year2024
Volume4
Issue11
Pagese0003656
Publication date2024-11-27
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0003656
PMID39602393
OpenAlexW4404791650
LanguageEN
References cited18

Background Understanding how governance factors such as democracy and corruption impact the healthcare workforce is crucial for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Effective health workforce planning and resource allocation are influenced by these political constructs. This study examines the relationship between democracy and corruption and key healthcare workforce metrics. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using a global dataset from 2020 to 2022. The primary outcome was Physician Density (medical doctors per 10000 people). Secondary outcomes included the generalist to specialist ratio and the percentage of female physicians (% Female). Partial correlations, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), and univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the relationship between workforce variables and the democracy index (DI), and corruption perception index (CPI), controlling for domestic health expenditure. Results Data from 134 countries showed significant positive associations between both DI (r = 0.32, p = 0.004) and CPI (r = 0.43, p Discussion Higher levels of democracy and lower levels of corruption are associated with a greater density of medical doctors, independent of healthcare spending. Policymakers must advocate for governance reforms that support a robust healthcare workforce to support aim of universal health coverage

Democracy · Economic growth · Economics · Language change · Multivariate analysis · Multivariate analysis of variance · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Statistics · Univariate analysis · Workforce · Corruption and Economic Development · Demography · Global Maternal and Child Health · Healthcare Systems and Reforms · Law · Mathematics · Medicine · Psychology · Internal Medicine

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