Comparative health care financing in St. Lucia, Grenada and Dominica

ABSTRACT

Presents the findings of a study of health care financing in the English-speaking Caribbean. The initial objective of the study was to explore whether increased support for maternal and child health might be provided through an expansion of social insurance coverage to include health benefits for workers and their dependents and also to find out how countries can adapt the organization, financing and delivery of health services so as to continue to provide primary health care equitably and efficiently, while at the same time providing essential secondary and tertiary level services. Details of the comparative study of the health systems in the three countries in terms of the adequacy of the health care provided at different levels and the real resources with which it is provided. Findings show that the level of health care spending both from public and private sources vary considerably among the islands. Includes statistical data on expenditure on health as well as the findings of a survey of consumers' view on the organization and quality of health care in the islands