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. 2020 Dec;18(6):767-780.
doi: 10.1007/s40258-019-00506-2.

Analyzing the Financial Sustainability of User Fee Removal Policies: A Rapid First Assessment Methodology with a Practical Application for Burkina Faso

Jacky Mathonnat  1 , Martine Audibert  2 , Salam Belem  3
Affiliations

Analyzing the Financial Sustainability of User Fee Removal Policies: A Rapid First Assessment Methodology with a Practical Application for Burkina Faso

Jacky Mathonnat et al. Appl Health Econ Health Policy. 2020 Dec.

Erratum in

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to briefly present a methodological framework that does not require cumbersome investigations for a first assessment of the financial sustainability of policies aiming to remove or reduce healthcare user fees (the so-called free healthcare policy [FHCP]). This paper is organized in two main sections. The first analyzes the various possibilities available to finance an FHCP. Using several scenarios, it includes a special focus devoted to the calculus of what to consider when assessing the sustainability of expanding fiscal space for financing the FHCP. The second section relies on the current FHCP being implemented in Burkina Faso to illustrate a selection of specific issues raised in the methodological framework. The results suggest that sustainable FHCP financing is not outside the range of the government but does represent a significant challenge, as it will require, both currently and in the future, complex and delicate budget trade-offs at the highest governmental levels, regardless of other policy options to be considered.

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Conflict of interest statement

Jacky Mathonnat, Martine Audibert, and Salam Belem have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this review/study.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Main options to finance a free healthcare policy
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Projections for the Ministry of Health budget (CFAF billions) and free healthcare policy in Burkina Faso. Sources of the data: Ministry of Health database, Burkina-Faso, 2018
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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