OBJECTIVE: To estimate how many child deaths might be prevented if user fees were removed in 20 African countries DESIGN: Simulation model combining evidence on key health interventions' impacts on reducing child mortality with analysis of the effect of fee abolition on access to healthcare services. RESULTS: Elimination of user fees could prevent approximately 233,000 (estimate range 153,000-305,000) deaths annually in children aged under 5 in 20 African countries. CONCLUSION: Given the relatively low cost of abolition, replacing user fees with alternative financing mechanisms should be seen as an effective first step towards improving households' access to health care and achieving the millennium development goals for health.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate how many child deaths might be prevented if user fees were removed in 20 African countries DESIGN: Simulation model combining evidence on key health interventions' impacts on reducing child mortality with analysis of the effect of fee abolition on access to healthcare services. RESULTS: Elimination of user fees could prevent approximately 233,000 (estimate range 153,000-305,000) deaths annually in children aged under 5 in 20 African countries. CONCLUSION: Given the relatively low cost of abolition, replacing user fees with alternative financing mechanisms should be seen as an effective first step towards improving households' access to health care and achieving the millennium development goals for health.
Authors: Gary L Darmstadt; Zulfiqar A Bhutta; Simon Cousens; Taghreed Adam; Neff Walker; Luc de Bernis Journal: Lancet Date: 2005 Mar 12-18 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Ke Xu; David B Evans; Kei Kawabata; Riadh Zeramdini; Jan Klavus; Christopher J L Murray Journal: Lancet Date: 2003-07-12 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Gilbert M Burnham; George Pariyo; Edward Galiwango; Fred Wabwire-Mangen Journal: Bull World Health Organ Date: 2004-04-16 Impact factor: 9.408
Authors: Merrin E Rutherford; John D Dockerty; Momodou Jasseh; Stephen R C Howie; Peter Herbison; David J Jeffries; Melissa Leach; Warren Stevens; Kim Mulholland; Richard A Adegbola; Philip C Hill Journal: Bull World Health Organ Date: 2009-03 Impact factor: 9.408