Analysis of cost and coverage of government financed Primary Health Care Services in Tanzania

Abstract

A method for cost analysis is presented and applied to Primary Health Care Services in Tanzania. Primary care utilization figures are combined with budget and cost data to arrive at estimates of per capita and per visit cost. Data for analysis of geographical coverage, health care needs, and utilization are most readily available for the MCH sector of Primary Health Care Services, the most important health care sector in LDCs, which is used in this paper as a proxy for estimating health care needs and utilization. The importance of separating appropriately identified investment costs from recurrent costs is illustrated. Speedy implementation of health care for all requires assistance for investment costs, the recurrent costs of appropriately designed Primary Health Care Services being within the reach of developing nations themselves.