Browsing by Person "Thompson, Robin"

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Health Economics for Developing Countries. A Practical Guide.
(MacMillan Education, 2000) Witter, Sophie; Ensor, Tim; Thompson, Robin; Jowett, Matthew
Health-seeking behaviour and rural/urban variation in Kazakhstan.
(Wiley InterScience, 2003-07) Thompson, Robin; Miller, Nigel; Witter, Sophie
This paper seeks to analyse the findings of an extensive household survey, uncovering interesting evidence of variation in health-seeking behaviour across rural and urban areas due, it is suggested, to differences in real costs, quality of care, and perceptions of the value of health and health care. It is shown that, ceteris paribus, urban households in Kazakhstan are more likely to consult, to be admitted to hospital, to report illness, and will spend relatively more on health care. The data suggest the need for further qualitative study into the factors underlying these patterns leading to strategies to increase the quality, acceptability and affordability of rural health services. This is important given the decline in health indicators such as life expectancy in Kazakhstan and the increased burden on households of funding health care in a time of economic insecurity and deterioration of public services.
Informal payments in transitional economies: implications for health sector reform.
(Wiley InterScience, 2000) Thompson, Robin; Witter, Sophie
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union increasing evidence is emerging of informal payments by patients for health care services that are officially free. There is little information, however, on the characteristics of these payments and the effect that they have on health care reform initiatives. This paper examines these issues and concludes that the endemic and complex nature of such payments suggests that a range of policy tools are necessary to address the negative features of informal payments in those countries undergoing transition
Strategic options for financing health system modernization and development: what can Vietnam learn from international experiences? ? Report for Development Strategy Institute, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Hanoi.
(Oxford Policy Management, 2011-03-14) Thompson, Robin; Witter, Sophie; Thi Thuy Nga, Nguyen
This study was commissioned by UNDP to inform the process of drafting the Vietnam SEDS, 2011- 20 and other health sectoral policies. It aims to highlight some of the main health financing challenges facing Vietnam and to draw on international literature to produce recommendations as to how the country should respond to them. The study was conducted in January to April 2011. It is based on a review of the literature for health financing in Vietnam and in selected neighbouring and comparable countries, as well as secondary data from Vietnam, key informant visits and one field trip to Vinh Phuc Province. It is structured along the lines of the four key health financing functions - i) revenue collection; ii) risk pooling; iii) purchasing; and iv) provision of services.