Abstract

This report offers a framework to assess the performance of health care financing systems and improve their equitability, efficiency and sustainability. By reviewing health care financing in low and middle income countries, this report presents possibilities for optimizing the three main functions of health care financing: revenue collection, pooling of funds and purchasing. The report presents a range of country case studies that highlight factors that have contributed to the successful set-up and implementation of these functions. A user-friendly fold-out table summarizes international experience in the performance of these functions in terms of feasibility, equity, efficiency and sustainability.