This volume contains thirteen papers prepared for the World Bank Conference on Innovations in Health Care Financing … for financing health care systems in developing countries. …

The appropriate role of the state in health is complex both in economic theory and in practice. Theory identifies three …); and failings peculiar to insurance markets for health care (where both inefficiency and inequity arise). The insurance … to finance an increasing share of health care as incomes rise. …

This paper surveys health reform in the former Soviet countries of Central Asia. Reform efforts are evaluated in the … context of achieving the goals of improving people's health status, maintaining acces and equity, improving efficiency …

Health care demand price elasticies are often estimated from samples conditioned to include only sike people. This …

This cross-national study provides empirical evidence of some of the trends in health status, health services, and … health care financing that have occurred in countries undergoing economic transition in Central and Eastern Europe. Evidence … shows that the transition has led to a significant reduction in resources devoted to health care in many of these countries …

possible trade-offs between cost recovery and the use of health services for different age, sex, ethic, and income groups. The …

Describes the elements of health reform in Sierra Leone as the West African nation attempts to overhaul its health … proposed and taken for reforming a package of health services, organizing the provision of those services, and financing the … health sector. The paper also identifies factors critical for success and concludes with an assessment of future prospects …

The World Bank has become the world's largest lender in the health, nutrition, and population (HNP) sectors, requiring … on the causes of observed changes in health and fertility levels, on the evaluation of policies, and on programs designed … sectors, the characteristics of a health care system, household behavior, and changes in health outcomes. The paper also …

While on-track for child health and maternal health MDGs, Lao PDR continues to have some of the worst maternal and … child health (MCH) outcomes, both globally and in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region. Under-five and infant mortality … rates are high relative to GDP per capita, and utilization of essential health services is low, given significant demand …