Self-financing and self-management of basic health services
Pangu, K.A.; Van Lerberghe, W.
World Health Forum 11(4): 451-454
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0251-2432 PMID: 2092706 Document Number: 314401
The Kasongo health district in the east of Zaire comprises 16 health centres and one referral general hospital, each serving a predominantly rural population of around 10 000. Although the district receives state subsidies in the form of salaries and an allocation for running costs, the budget is inadequate. Therefore efforts are now being made by the community to change this situation and to reduce costs and increase income for the health centres. This is being achieved through the introduction of a scheme of self-funding and self-management, the main advantage of which lies in the fact that the power to make specific choices raises the level of community participation. Nevertheless, it should be realized that those communities lacking experience or training in self-management take a long time to learn.