Counting the cost of primary health care
Grosse, R.N.; Plessas, D.J.
World Health Forum 5(3): 226-230
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0251-2432 Document Number: 406126
A study of seven primary health projects in different countries (Afghanistan, Dominican Republic, Tanzania, Bolivia, Colombia, Ghana and India) has established that large-scale programmes offer primary health services more cheaply than demonstration projects. It is suggested that lack of interest in cost analysis characterizes the whole range of health activities, but is particularly pronounced in the case of primary health care. It is concluded that older programmes incorporated into the mainstream of local health administrations are more effective than innovative experiments. The authors analyse the investment costs and running costs of 7 primary health projects in developing countries and conclude that large-scale programmes (in Afghanistan, Dominican Republic and Tanzania) offer primary health services more cheaply than demonstration projects (in Bolivia, Colombia, Ghana and India). Each project is discussed briefly.