Summary |
In dozens of developing countries, special technical groups are busy advising ministers of health, ministers of finance, vice presidents, and presidents on the feasibility of social health insurance (SHI) as a way to mobilize revenues for health, enhance the health sector’s performance, and provide universal coverage.
The volume includes a review of design and implementation issues that challenge SHI in low- and middle-income countries and case studies on Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, the Philippines, and Thailand that shed light on the trials and tribulations of implementing SHI in contexts far less hospitable than those in rich countries. Accordingly, the case studies provide a road map of design options, aims and intentions, midcourse revisions, and successes and pitfalls. The volume concludes by presenting lessons learned and policy implications.
Perhaps the most important message of this volume is that SHI should not be seen as a magic bullet that will solve all the woes of health care financing and provision in developing countries. It clearly has the potential to make a positive contribution, but success comes slowly, because of the drawbacks and risks involved.
|
