RESUMO
Objective To analyze the dynamic efficiency of township health centers. Methods Based on the DEA-Malmquist indices model, this paper analyzed the total factor productivity change indices of 281 township health centers in Hunan province with panel data from 2000 to 2008. These include technological change indices, efficiency change indices, pure technical efficiency change indices and scale efficiency change indices. Results A growth trend is identified with all the input/output factors in all the 281 township health centers; the sample health centers are found with a growth in the total factor productivity, efficiency and pure technical efficiency; the center health centers are found with a growth in the total factor productivity, technology, efficiency and pure technical efficiency, with greater technical improvement than efficiency; health centers at large are found with improvement in total factor productivity, efficiency and pure technical efficiency. Conclusion During the study period, sample health centers were characteristic of improved efficiency in terms of all factor productivity; central health centers characteristic of improvement in technology, while health centers at large are characteristic of improved efficiency.