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Revolving drug funds: a step towards health security
1Department of Health Policy and Planning, Graduate School of International Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan. umenai@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
|March 20, 1999
Summary
A revolving drug fund project in Viet Nam successfully recovered costs and strengthened local healthcare. This initiative improved health security at district levels, demonstrating its value beyond simple financial management.
Area of Science:
- Health economics
- Public health policy
- Pharmaceutical management
Background:
- Healthcare financing challenges in low- and middle-income countries.
- The role of drug procurement and supply chain management in healthcare delivery.
- Previous experiences with revolving drug fund models in resource-limited settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the establishment of a revolving drug fund (RDF) project in Viet Nam.
- To identify and analyze the key factors contributing to the success of the RDF project.
- To evaluate the broader impact of the RDF on healthcare strengthening and health security.
Main Methods:
- Case study approach detailing the implementation of the RDF project.
- Qualitative analysis of factors influencing project success.
- Assessment of cost recovery mechanisms and health security improvements.
Main Results:
- Successful implementation of the revolving drug fund model in Viet Nam.
- Identification of critical success factors including community engagement and effective management.
- Demonstrated positive impact on healthcare access and financial sustainability at local and district levels.
Conclusions:
- Revolving drug funds are effective tools for cost recovery in healthcare.
- RDFs serve as a strategic entry point for enhancing local healthcare systems.
- The Viet Nam RDF project offers valuable lessons for improving health security in similar settings.