Survey on Sustainable Mechanisms for Financing Essential Drugs at Loumbila in Burkina Faso

Abstract

In Burkina Faso, households are the main source of health financing. Based on out-of-pocket health payments, the current system is a major cause of poverty. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the improvement of local health funding in Loumbila and throughout the country. A descriptive and analytical study was conducted among 271 household heads, 3 health committee members, the top state official in the village (préfet), and the secretary general of the municipality between 25 June and 5 August 2010. A survey guide and questionnaires were used to collect data. The crossanalytical and descriptive survey was used to collect, process, analyze and discuss the results. The results of the survey indicate that 82.3 % of the participating households were willing to contribute to the creation of a municipal health fund in the village. The study founds that the average contribution rate of each household was 9 % of the annual household income. The harvest period (in the case of farmers) or any adapted period (in the case of other households) is the best periods for collecting funds. The findings suggest that the municipal committee will need to be responsible for managing and coordinating the municipal health fund. This requires the participation of the state, health districts, NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations), and others partners. It is estimated that the cost of effective treatment for the ten most priorities diseases in the village in 2010 was 4,011,300 FCFA (West and Central Africa French speaking countries currency). If all the households in the village were to contribute to the municipal health fund, the total amount of contributions would amount to 15,575,515 FCFA. Under this system, all households within the village can have access to essential drugs. The municipal health fund will also have some reserves for performing municipal development boards and institutions, for improving the independence and sustainability of the system.