Deliverables

Results

Several dimensions are defined in the literature to identify an area as a medical desert. Next to geographical distances and travel times to health facilities, demographic, social or health characteristics of the population and the health workforce to population ratio are used.
Based on the literature, survey data and stakeholder consultations in five different countries, we selected and specified four key dimensions as most distinctive to construct a first taxonomy of medical deserts: (1) % of population 65+, (2) economic resources of the population; (3) travel time to public health facilities by public transport, (4) population-provider ratio.
The first version of the ROUTE-HWF medical desert taxonomy is based on unique combinations of the four dimensions, identifying 15 different types of medical deserts, each of which might require different approaches and solutions for desertification.

In a separate ROUTE-HWF report, we build upon the first version of the medical desert taxonomy and propose a set of guidelines to measure and monitor the four key dimensions: (1) % of population 65+, (2) economic resources of the population; (3) travel time to public health facilities by public transport, (4) population-provider ratio.
Different data sources, methods and indicators are needed to apply the taxonomy, i.e. to (a) identify, (b) measure and (c) monitor medical desert areas within and across countries.
The set of guidelines provides a first operationalization of the ROUTE-HWF medical desert taxonomy, which will be tested across different European countries and areas.