Raising Returns : The Distribution of Health Financing and Outcomes in Yemen
Given relatively few resources and lagging health outcomes in Yemen, the quest for equitable, cost-effective health care delivery continues as long-term, sustainable development remains a priority. This paper assesses overall value for money of the...
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| Language: | English en_US |
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World Bank, Washington, DC
2013
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2011/02/13771840/raising-returns-distribution-health-financing-outcomes-yemen http://hdl.handle.net/10986/13595 |
| Summary: | Given relatively few resources and
lagging health outcomes in Yemen, the quest for equitable,
cost-effective health care delivery continues as long-term,
sustainable development remains a priority. This paper
assesses overall value for money of the health system mainly
as indicated by an analysis of public expenditure trends
from 1997 until 2008 and by the degree to which health care
benefits are conferred equitably to the population. Total
health expenditure in 2007 accounted for 5.2 percent of
Gross Domestic Product (GDP), or only PPP$ 41 per capita,
with nearly 70 percent sourced by direct household payments
(67 percent). Despite recent improvements in health status,
Yemen continues to lag behind countries of similar or lower
income and health expenditure levels. Levels of health
outcomes in Vietnam, Indonesia and the Kyrgyz Republic are 2
to 6 times better than levels found in Yemen regarding the
proportion of infants with low birth weight, the prevalence
of malnutrition amongst children, the rate of births
delivered by skilled attendants, and the rate of coverage of
antenatal services. Although health facilities are
relatively evenly distributed across the population, the
operational status and quality of these facilities is highly
variable. The availability of pharmaceuticals at health
facilities ranges from 31 percent of facilities having
medications on site in the governorate of Al-Maharah to 94
percent in Amran. To more effectively alleviate inequities
and inefficiencies in health service delivery in Yemen,
national policies are recommended to more strategically
prioritize resource allocation and develop innovative
service delivery models to more efficiently connect rural communities. |
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