HLSP carried out economic appraisals of DFID's HIV
and AIDS programme in Vietnam Financing is a key function of
health systems and, as such, plays a key role in influencing health
sector performance. Although funding for health in low income
countries is often extremely low, problems of underfunding are
compounded by the fact that resources are often misallocated, used
inefficiently or simply fail to reach their intended
destination.
The financing of health services is only a means to an end. It
matters because the way it is done plays a key role in determining
access to basic health services and can also help protect the
population against the often heavy financial costs associated with
ill health.
Financing refers to the ways in which revenue is collected, is
pooled between different users and in which providers are paid. It
influences access in two ways:
- on the supply side by ensuring that essential services
are adequately financed and delivered,
- on the demand side by reducing financial barriers to
access and by making sure that funds are raised and services
delivered in ways which are affordable to all.
Analysis of financing approaches can help inform debate about
priorities and shed light on how financing policies might be made
more efficient and more pro poor.HLSP has a wide range of
experience in leading financing related assignments or working as
part of multidisciplinary teams addressing health systems issues at
both country and global levels. We have worked in both the public
and private sector for a range of clients including the World Bank,
WHO, DFID, EC, GAVI and the Global Fund.
Assignments have ranged from the development of national health
accounts (NHA), national health insurance systems, community health
financing initiatives to the regulation of private health financing
and provider payment mechanisms. We have also contributed economic
and financial inputs as part of sector strategy reviews and public
expenditure reviews.
