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Guatemala: The economic burden of illness and health system implications

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  • Bowser, Diana M.
  • Mahal, Ajay

Abstract

Objectives To assess the economic burden of ill health in Guatemala, the characteristics of Guatemala's health system that potentially explain this burden, and to identify policies to help ameliorate it.Methods Data from the 2000 and 2006 Living Standard Measurement Surveys are used to assess levels of financial burden from ill health, along with information on health system characteristics of Guatemala and recent reform experiences of several middle- and low-income countries.Results Despite some gains over the period from 2000 to 2006, there continues to be both a high level and inequitable distribution of financial burden associated with ill health in Guatemala. Low levels of insurance coverage, a heavy concentration of the uninsured among the less well off and rural populations, as well as their low levels of access to public services are important drivers of out of pocket spending on health. Households with older members also appear to be at increased risk for out of pocket payments.Conclusions High levels of catastrophic health spending and poverty co-exist with significant economic inequality and poverty in Guatemala. With health system features and a large informal sector similar to many other developing countries, recent international experience can provide useful lessons to help Guatemala devise innovative financing and payment mechanisms to address these concerns.

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  • Bowser, Diana M. & Mahal, Ajay, 2011. "Guatemala: The economic burden of illness and health system implications," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(2-3), pages 159-166, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:100:y:2011:i:2-3:p:159-166
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    1. Mrs. Esther Perez Ruiz & Mauricio Soto, 2019. "Attaining Selected Sustainable Development Goals in Guatemala: Spending, Provision, and Financing Needs," IMF Working Papers 2019/060, International Monetary Fund.
    2. World Bank & Observatoire National de la Pauvreté et de l’Exclusion Sociale, 2014. "Investing in People to Fight Poverty in Haiti : Reflections for Evidence-based Policy Making [Haïti - Investir dans l’humain pour combattre la pauvreté : Éléments de réflexions pour la prise de déc," World Bank Publications - Reports 21519, The World Bank Group.

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