Over the years Oxfam has been involved in a wide variety of health-related projects. The Practical Health Guides draw on this experience to put forward ideas on best practice in the provision of health care and services in developing countries. The way in which a health service is financed has significant implications for the quality and scope of the care provided and is, therefore, a fundamental issue in health-services provision. Financing Health Care aims to stimulate thinking and provide guidance on the issue of financing health care. It suggests options, raises questions and provides examples of ways in which health care can be financed. It is designed to help readers think about what is best for their particular working situation, rather than to suggest definitive solutions. Intended for managers, health workers and members of the community who are involved with non-governmental health programmes. Financing Health Care will also be useful to anyone with an interest in health-service issues. The way in which a health service is financed will have significant implications for the way it is run and the quality and scope of care it provides, and is thus a fundamental issue in health-service delivery. Examples from many parts of the world are used to illustrate different experiences of financing health care.

• * Acknowledgments
• * Preface
• * List of abbreviations
• * Explanation of terms
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Financing health care: first thoughts
• 3. Methods of financing health care
• 4. Financing health care: what do we want to achieve?
• 5. Dealing with practical issues
• 6. The rural health zone of Boga, Zaire
• * Appendix1: The Bamako Initiative
• * Appendix2: Household surveys and baseline information
• * Appendix3: Threats to the sustainability of revolving drug funds
• * Appendix4: Suppliers of low-cost drugs and equipment
• * Appendix5: Steps towards rational prescribing and appropriate use of drugs
• * Appendix6: Sample budget
• * Appendix7: Setting prices
• * Appendix8: Examples of cash book records
• * Appendix9: Inputs for a health programme
• * Bibliography and Further reading
• * Notes
• * Index

Hilary Goodman

Catriona Waddington