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Health sector reform in Mali, 1989-1996 - TropMed Central Antwerp ...

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1995. Even though begun, this evolution rema<strong>in</strong>ed short of objectives<br />

(6.56% <strong>in</strong> <strong>1996</strong>) (Fig. 14).<br />

The <strong>in</strong>crease was aimed at improv<strong>in</strong>g the basic function<strong>in</strong>g of the<br />

system and <strong>in</strong> particular that of referral. The problem at this level is more<br />

fluidity and flexibility <strong>in</strong> mobiliz<strong>in</strong>g resources at the decentralized level. It<br />

was not rare to observe that <strong>in</strong> the third quarter, the health budget showed<br />

a significant delay <strong>in</strong> execution, though the needs were far from be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

covered. Here, the problem was one of structur<strong>in</strong>g and effective<br />

decentralization of budgets. In many countries the M<strong>in</strong>istries of F<strong>in</strong>ance do<br />

not always look favourably on decentralization. And staff responsible for<br />

f<strong>in</strong>ance are not easily <strong>in</strong>cl<strong>in</strong>ed to modify procedures and material.<br />

Nevertheless, a solution is needed so that referral centres and the district<br />

management team can respond to programme demands with budgetary<br />

resources sufficient to guarantee basic operations. Otherwise, users will have<br />

to pay high prices for each hospitalization or surgical <strong>in</strong>tervention, especially<br />

s<strong>in</strong>ce there is still no solidarity mechanism to take care of referral cases,<br />

other than a few promis<strong>in</strong>g projects.<br />

An evaluation of the costs and f<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g of the district health system<br />

was undertaken <strong>in</strong> <strong>1996</strong>. 87 It covered three districts and one Bamako<br />

commune. The operational costs, less depreciation, of the first referral<br />

varied from FCFA 530 per <strong>in</strong>habitant for Commune V of Bamako to FCFA<br />

108 per <strong>in</strong>habitant for Djenne. The evaluation systematically reviewed the<br />

different mechanisms for f<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g the district health system with an eye to<br />

equity. The conclusion was that there are only two ways to assure the<br />

viability of first referral hospitals: subsidies from the State and the ability of<br />

communities and health teams to create new forms of solidarity. For this<br />

second dimension to develop, it will be necessary to avoid top-down and<br />

one-size-fits-all approaches. Efforts to progress towards a consolidated<br />

budget by district and to put <strong>in</strong> place new solidarity mechanisms (premutual<br />

and mutual funds) will permit better understand<strong>in</strong>g of the complex, overall<br />

f<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g of the district health system. 88<br />

87 Blaise P, Kegels G & Van Lerberghe W (1997) Coûts et f<strong>in</strong>ancement du système de santé<br />

de cercle au <strong>Mali</strong>. Studies <strong>in</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Service Organisation & Policy 5, 1-130.<br />

88 Camara I (1997) Une expérience mutualiste de gestion directe: le Centre de Santé<br />

MUTEC. In: Brunet-Jailly E (ed) Innover dans les systèmes de santé. Expériences d’Afrique<br />

de l’Ouest, 360-366. Paris: Editions Karthala. Chalamet P & Diakite K (1997) Bâtir sur<br />

l’<strong>in</strong>itiative: l’exemple des ressortissants émigrés. In: Brunet-Jailly E (ed) Innover dans les<br />

systèmes de santé. Expériences d’Afrique de l’Ouest, 167-178. Paris: Editions Karthala.<br />

Studies <strong>in</strong> HSO&P,20,2003 103

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