Management Institute for National Development
Estimating Public Expenditure on Women’s Health Services in Jamaica: 1997 & 2007
At the secondary and tertiary levels, resource constraints do not appear to be a major reason for the decrease in utilization. With the contraceptive prevalence increasing from 64% to 69% over the period and the total fertility rate falling from 2.8 to 2.4, there are indications that this may be a factor in the decline in utilization. Additionally, it may be that the private sector is attracting more clients for reproductive services. It is important though that research be undertaken to ensure that access problems due to poverty are not contributing to the decline in usage. With the methodology for the costing of services inextricably tied to utilization and even in the face of inflationary pressures, the total expenditure on women’s health programmes increased from US$12.3 million in 1997 to US$16.5 million in 2007. However, based on our calculations, the share of expenditure on these programmes of total recurrent health expenditure, fell from 7% to 5%, in 1997 and 2007, respectively. Given the level of resources that are being allocated to women’s health programmes, there is need for continuous assessment of the cost and range of health
services targeted to women’s health. There is also need for a consistent methodology to facilitate more accurate identification of gaps that may exist. Important too is the need for continuous research to provide analysis and dissemination of the latest information that will have real time effect on policy decisions. Implicit in this is the need for adequate monitoring and evaluation of both the efficacy of spending on women’s health as well as the reach and effectiveness of the programmes themselves. Conclusion This study also pointed to the large role of women in the household in Jamaica and some of the poverty issues that may impact health seeking behaviour of women. Given the foregoing, there is need to ensure, at the policy level, that services are accessed by those who need them most. This raises the very real issue of the necessity for an increased awareness of the role of women in both the promotion of health and also in the context of the wider role of human development.
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