An analysis of equity issues in public spending on MNCH in Pakistan.
Abstract
The key objectives of the study were to:
1. Present evidence on socio-economic and regional disparities in health outcomes particularly Mother, New-born and Child Health in Pakistan (MNCH) and to compare the extent of these inequalities with the neighbouring countries.
2. Critically analyse the level and pattern of resource allocation on health, in general, and on MNCH in particular in Pakistan. More specifically, to examine the implications of these allocation patterns on health inequalities in Pakistan. Also to examine how investing more in MNCH and targeting these public subsidies effectively towards the marginalized groups can promote simultaneously, the two central goals of public finance which are (i) to achieve efficiency and (ii) achieve equity in public health spending;
3. Conduct a Utilization Incidence Analysis of public spending on MNCH related health services so as to determine whether public spending on MNCH, at present, in Pakistan is being effectively targeted towards the poor.
4. Provide policy recommendations on the basis of the findings of the analysis and point out future directions for research.
The report is organized as follows: Section 1 Introduction. Section 2 presents the standard methodologies followed by development practitioners to measure health inequalities across countries and provides evidence on health inequalities in Pakistan. Section 3 analyses the level and pattern of public health spending across sub-sectors and regions in Pakistan and discusses the possible repercussions of these allocations on health inequality in Pakistan. Section 4 presents the methodology of measuring the incidence of public health spending across socio-economic groups; reviews relevant studies conducted in other parts of the world; and presents empirical results in the context of MNCH related services in Pakistan. Chapter 5 concludes and presents policy recommendations in light of the key findings of the study.
Citation
Malik, S.M.; Janjua, Y. An analysis of equity issues in public spending on MNCH in Pakistan. Maternal and Newborn Health Programme Research and Advocacy Fund (RAF), Pakistan (2013) x + 117 pp.
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