Table 1.

Proposed variables for input into the cost function

Model	WHO model [30]	Proposed: inpatient admission	Proposed: outpatient visit
Cost	Average cost	Cost per admission	Cost per outpatient visit
Technology (input mix)	GDP per capita	Labour input Capital stock	Labour input Capital stock
Price of labour		Price of labour	Price of labour
Price of capital		State healthcare expenditure per capita	State healthcare expenditure per capita
Capacity utilisation	Occupancy rate Average length of stay	Occupancy rate	Labour/output ratio
Case mix	Hospital level	Facility level	Facility level
Outputs	Inpatient admissions/outpatient visits	Inpatient admissions	Outpatient visits

GDP gross domestic product; WHO World Health Organization