[Economics of health care in Mali]

From the results obtained regarding the financing of health care in Mali, we emphasize two important points. First, there is a lack of criteria for the distribution of finding in the health care sector, resulting in a waste of resources. Secondly, there is an absence of adequate pharmaceutical policies. The field studies led in 1987 provided the following observations. The rate of occupation of the beds is very low. Also, the numerous new investments are not yet put into service because of the lack of necessary equipment of qualified personnel. In addition, this does not consider the excessive investments occurring in certain localities where neither the rate of frequentation nor the economic conditions will ever allow the use of the capacity created. Among the possible solutions for the crisis of health care funding in Mali, the following should be priority: first, to fight against the complete lack of organization of the activities at the health care centers; secondly, to fight against the waste and misappropriation of money resulting from the behavior of the medical and paramedical personnel: and thirdly, to clarify the management of the resources coming from the charges for each service. The pharmaceutical policies adopted and implemented in recent years Largely contributed to, first, the creation of competition between essential generic medications and nongeneric medications that can be replaced, and then, the destruction of the public network of drug distribution. These conditions considerably limited the distribution of essential medications; yet, this is the only manner of reducing the pharmaceutical expenses and accordingly, allowing more funding for other medical services. As the distribution network is disorganized, the only alternative for the population to obtain the medications at the lowest price was to create centers of purchasing and distribution and to multiply the number of retailers of essential medications. Extensive work has been conducted in the health care sector in Mali, accompanied by concrete proposals allowing for improved functioning of the system. However, despite these improvements, these conclusions are rarely considered by the health policy makers. This is because behind the financial aspects of health services, there is an important political stake. Also, the governments of many countries, including Mali, had to resort to adjustment programs that reduce their maneuverability of economic policies in general, and of health care policies in particular. The sponsors "give" large sums of financial aid to the health care sector, but are not interested in the results. The promotion of the health care sector requires a courageous political will. In contrast, microeconomic studies allowed the creation of the first community health centers in Mali. These examples, now followed in many village throughout Mali, constitute the hope of the health care sector.