[What is the real cost of universal health care in Haiti?]

Abstract

Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas and continues to suffer from glaring inequalities. 75 % of Haitians live on less than $2.50 a day [1]. Half the population has no access to formal health care because of the financial barriers created by the direct payment system at the point of delivery [2]. The earthquake of January 12, 2010 only compounded the problem, destroying 60 % of hospitals in the three affected departments. The Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) policy is based on the values of equity, solidarity and social justice [3]. Compliance with these commitments requires the introduction of universal health care, which remains a distant prospect. The objective of universal health care will only be achieved when all Haitians have access to a comprehensive range of high-quality health services in a system in which the ability to pay is not a barrier to access. The real cost of the various policy options for introducing free health care is not known. There is an urgent need to focus the attention of the scientific community on this issue in order to provide better guidance to policy-makers. Cost analysis is a key step in the introduction of universal health care, particularly in Haiti, where resources are limited.