Innovative Humanitarian Health Financing for Refugees

Abstract Background Direct out-of-pocket payments (OOP) are among the most important financing mechanisms in many health systems, especially in developing countries, adversely affecting equality and leading vulnerable groups to poverty. Therefore, this scoping review study was conducted to identify the strategies involving OOP reduction in health systems. Methods Articles published in English on strategies related to out-of-pocket payments were Searched and retrieved in the Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Embase databases between January 2000 and November 2020, following PRISMA guidelines. As a result, 3710 papers were retrieved initially, and 40 were selected for full-text assessment. Results Out of 40 papers included, 22 (55%) and 18 (45%) of the study were conducted in developing and developed countries, respectively. The strategies were divided into four categories based on health system functions: health system stewardship, creating resources, health financing mechanisms, and delivering health services.As well, developing and developed countries applied different types of strategies to reduce OOP. Conclusion The present review identified some strategies that affect the OOP payments According to the health system functions framework. Considering the importance of stewardship, creating resources, the health financing mechanisms, and delivering health services in reducing OOP, this study could help policymakers make better decisions for reducing OOP expenditures.

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Employment based health financing does not support gender equity in universal health coverage

BMJ ◽

10.1136/bmj.m3384 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. m3384 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lavanya Vijayasingham ◽

Veloshnee Govender ◽

Sophie Witter ◽

Michelle Remme

Keyword(s):

Gender Equity ◽

Universal Health Coverage ◽

Health Financing ◽

Health Coverage ◽

Universal Health

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Economic Contraction from COVID-19 in the Pacific: Implications for Health Financing

Health Systems & Reform ◽

10.1080/23288604.2020.1847991 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. e1847991

Author(s):

Ajay Tandon ◽

Susan Ivatts ◽

Peter Cowley ◽

Tomas Roubal ◽

Rebecca Dodd ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Financing ◽

The Pacific

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Uganda’s increasing dependence on development partner’s support for immunization – a five year resource tracking study (2012 – 2016)

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10178-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Carol Kamya ◽

Christabel Abewe ◽

Peter Waiswa ◽

Gilbert Asiimwe ◽

Faith Namugaya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vaccine Coverage ◽

National Level ◽

Health Financing ◽

Health Facilities ◽

Development Partner ◽

National Medical ◽

External Sources ◽

Lower Health ◽

Health Accounts ◽

The Government

Abstract Background In Uganda, there are persistent weaknesses in obtaining accurate, reliable and complete data on local and external investments in immunization to guide planning, financing, and resource mobilization. This study aimed to measure and describe the financial envelope for immunization from 2012 to 2016 and analyze expenditures at sub-national level. Methods The Systems of Health Accounts (SHA) 2011 methodology was used to quantify and map the resource envelope for immunization. Data was collected at national and sub-national levels from public and external sources of immunization. Data were coded, categorized and disaggregated by expenditure on immunization activities using the SHA 2011. Results Over the five-year period, funding for immunization increased fourfold from US$20.4 million in 2012 to US$ 85.6 million in 2016. The Ugandan government was the main contributor (55%) to immunization resources from 2012 to 2014 however, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance contributed the majority (59%) of the resources to immunization in 2015 and 2016. Majority (66%) of the funds were managed by the National Medical Stores. Over the five-year period, 80% of the funds allocated to immunization activities were spent on facility based routine immunization (expenditure on human resources and outreaches). At sub-national level, districts allocated 15% of their total annual resources to immunization to support supervision of lower health facilities and distribution of vaccines. Health facilities spent 5.5% of their total annual resources on immunization to support outreaches. Conclusion Development partner support has aided the improvement of vaccine coverage and increased access to vaccines however, there is an increasing dependence on this support for a critical national program raising sustainability concerns alongside other challenges like being off-budget and unpredictable. To ensure financial sustainability, there is need to operationalize the immunization fund, advocate and mobilize additional resources for immunization from the Government of Uganda and the private sector, increase the reliability of resources for immunization as well as leverage on health financing reforms like the National Health Insurance.

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