EFFICIENCY, EQUITY, AND EFFECTIVENESS OF MALARIA FUNDING IN UGANDA: MAKING THE CASE FOR REFORMING PUBLIC FINANCING FOR HEALTH

Year 2019, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 131 - 144, 27.08.2019

Vincent Okungu , Janine Mans

https://doi.org/10.23884/ijhsrp.2019.4.2.07

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Decreasing external funding for malaria requires high
burden countries such as Uganda to increase domestic public financing to
control and eliminate malaria. The aim of this study was to examine how the
Government of Uganda, in collaboration with development partners and private
sources of funding, has directed public resources in the recent past to help
address the malaria burden. Data search and collection included national,
regional and global reports and global data-bases. Government reports including
National Development Plans, national health accounts (NHAs), national
demographic health surveys, and other reports such as the Uganda Medicines
Price Monitor, were included in the review. The findings indicate that government
funding for malaria is limited (10% of total budget for malaria programming).
Households (67%) are the main source of funds which makes malaria control in
Uganda unsustainable. Public allocations are also inefficient with only 30% of
funds allocated for preventive services contrary to global and national malaria
control priorities. Evidence of inequity in the implementation of malaria
programming are closely linked to poverty and ownership of preventive materials
such as ITNs. Poor regions also report high malaria case incidence.
Unavailability of anti-malarials is reported in lower level facilities serving
mainly the poor. Overall progress in improving key malaria indicators is poor.
There is also no correlation between expenditure on malaria and availability of
ITNs (R²=0.6631). In conclusion, public financing for primary
services such as malaria require reforms to strengthen health sector
performance in terms of sustainability, efficiency, effectiveness and equity.

Keywords

Malaria, Public financing, Effectiveness, Uganda

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