3. Strengthening Health Systems

In February 2001, the government of Uganda abolished cost sharing in public facilities at the community level. This move was followed by a marked increase in the use of health services by all population groups. For villages near public health centers, the increase was greatest among the poorest groups. The frequency with which centers ran out of drugs worsened during the first year of implementation but gradually improved during the second year. A study concluded that before the policy change user fees were probably a major deterrent to the use of public health services and that their removal was especially beneficial to the poor.

Source: Nabyonga and others 2005.