USAID experience with health care financing : an annotated bibliography

USAID has devoted considerable attention to this question over the last 10-15 years, with emphasis on containing costs, mobilizing new resources, allocating existing resources more efficiently, and increasing the role of the private sector. Experience shows that almost every health financing strategy works somewhere under some set of circumstances. However, specific financing schemes that are successful in one country are not necessarily successful in another. Since each country has different needs, standard solutions cannot be imposed. To help guide professionals toward appropriate solutions, this annotated bibliography presents key USAID reports and evaluations, particularly case studies and reports that synthesize experience or lessons learned across various projects and country programs. The materials are presented under the following subject headings: (1) general health care financing; (2) privatization and the private sector; (3) the public sector and improved allocation and management of health resources; (4) cost recovery, user fees, and means testing; (5) insurance; (6) financing child survival and immunization programs; and (7) financing family planning. (Author abstract, modified)