User Charge as a Source of Health Financing in India - a Case of Haryana

Abstract

In 1999 Sec to r Investment Programme (SIP) was Januched by European Commission in India to implement Health Sector Reforms measure whid1 intended to expand accessibility of health services and improve quality o f care in publicly funded institution in the counb·y. Th is initiative was impl emented in 8 States covering 16 Districts on pilot basis. Under the programme various inititives in forms of new innovations were adopted and fee the service i.e. user cl1arge wa one of th em. Th is pape r examines th e process adop ted for th e i.nstitutionalization of user cl1arge as a o urce of health care financing in public health facilities in Haryana. The health facilities want to maximize the cost recovery while making the basic services they offer, acces ible to the population, they ca ter. The findings suggest that there is a need to sb·engthening the monitoring system and design a wuform pricng poli y for the entire sta te. Attitude about publicly funded service will also change once the quality and quantity of services is enhanced.