The financing of health: conditions for effectiveness and equity.

Abstract

To better understand and implement the extensive World Bank study on the financing of health, this limited article was enjoined to discuss salient features of the study and their potential for implementation. With technology for diagnosis and treatment driving health costs up, we are left with still affordable and all around more effective programs on protection and prevention that would be more cost- and health effective in a world where financial health resources are static or being cut back. Health programs and hospitals are generally inefficient with an underutilization of peripheral services. A redesign of integration systems is discussed. 4 policy reforms do, in effect, constitute a positive and feasible agenda. All of these policies will require great political commitment for their unpopularity. 1st, charging users of health services except those truly unable to pay is deemed more just. 2nd, provisions of insurance or other risk coverage (e.g. social security) need expansion. 3rd, effective use of nongovernment resources, the most vague policy reform, is discussed in terms of its implementation. 4th, decentralization of government health services is a prerequisite for achieving significant reform in financing the services. The main point of the World Bank study is active community participation which stops the paternalistic government-mendicant demanding populace pathology that is common today. A special study is suggested which would involve the World Bank and other internal organizations in analyzing the financial and technical support furnished to strengthen, endorse, and empower the reform policies.