Are health services protecting the livelihoods of the urban poor in Sri Lanka? Findings from two low-income areas of Colombo

Russell, Steven and Gilson, Lucy (2006) Are health services protecting the livelihoods of the urban poor in Sri Lanka? Findings from two low-income areas of Colombo. Social Science & Medicine, 63 (7). pp. 1732-1744. ISSN 1873-5347

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Abstract

Investing in pro-poor health services is central to poverty reduction and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. As health care financing mechanisms have an important influence over access and treatment costs they are central to the debates over health systems and their impact on poverty. This paper examines people's utilisation of health care services and illness cost burdens in a setting of free public provision, Sri Lanka. It assesses whether and how free health care protected poor and vulnerable households from illness costs and illness-induced impoverishment, using data from a cross-sectional survey (423 households) and longitudinal case study household research (16 households). The findings inform policy debates about how to improve protection levels, including the contribution of free health care services to poverty reduction. Assessment of policy options that can improve health system performance must start from a better understanding of the demand-side influences over performance.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Global Development (formerly School of International Development)
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Health and Disease
Depositing User:	Abigail Dalgleish
Date Deposited:	20 May 2011 15:02
Last Modified:	14 Feb 2023 10:30
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/31230
DOI:	10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.04.017

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