Dataset Information

Impact on child mortality of removing user fees: simulation model.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To estimate how many child deaths might be prevented if user fees were removed in 20 African countries

Design

Simulation model combining evidence on key health interventions' impacts on reducing child mortality with analysis of the effect of fee abolition on access to healthcare services.

Results

Elimination of user fees could prevent approximately 233,000 (estimate range 153,000-305,000) deaths annually in children aged under 5 in 20 African countries.

Conclusion

Given the relatively low cost of abolition, replacing user fees with alternative financing mechanisms should be seen as an effective first step towards improving households' access to health care and achieving the millennium development goals for health.

SUBMITTER: James C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1239978 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Impact on child mortality of removing user fees: simulation model.

James Chris C Morris Saul S SS Keith Regina R Taylor Anna A

BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 20051001 7519

<h4>Objective</h4>To estimate how many child deaths might be prevented if user fees were removed in 20 African countries<h4>Design</h4>Simulation model combining evidence on key health interventions' impacts on reducing child mortality with analysis of the effect of fee abolition on access to healthcare services.<h4>Results</h4>Elimination of user fees could prevent approximately 233,000 (estimate range 153,000-305,000) deaths annually in children aged under 5 in 20 African countries.<h4>Conclus ...[more]

PMID: 16195292

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundSince the advent of health user fees in low- and middle-income countries in the 1980s, the discourse of global health actors (GHAs) has changed to the disadvantage of this type of healthcare financing mechanism. The aim of the study was to identify and analyze the stance of GHAs in the debate on user fees.MethodsWe conducted documentary research using public documents published by and officially attributed to GHAs from 2005 to 2011. We categorized GHAs into four groups: intergovernmental organizations, international non-governmental organizations, government agencies, and working groups and networks. We then classified the GHAs according to their stance relative to the abolition of user fees, and conducted a thematic analysis of their discourse to understand the arguments used by each GHA to justify its stance.ResultsWe identified 56 GHAs, for which we analyzed 140 documents. Among them, 55% were in favor of the abolition of user fees or in favor of free care at the point of delivery. None of the GHAs stated that they were in favor of user fees; however, 30% did not take a stand. Only the World Bank declares that it is both in favor of user fees and in favor of free care at point of service. GHAs generally circumscribe their stance to specific populations (pregnant women, children under 5 years, etc.) or to specific health services (primary, basic, essential). Three types of arguments are used by GHAs to justify their stance: economic, moral and ethical, and pragmatic.ConclusionsThe principle of "user pays" seems to have fizzled. Production and dissemination of evidence, as well as certain advocacy networks, may have contributed to this change in discourse. However, GHAs should go a step further and translate their words into action, so that free healthcare at the point of delivery becomes a reality in low- and middle-income countries. They should provide technical and financial support to those countries that have chosen to implement user fee exemption policies, sometimes influenced by a GHA.

Dataset Information

Impact on child mortality of removing user fees: simulation model.

Objective

Design

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Impact on child mortality of removing user fees: simulation model.

Similar Datasets

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