HEALTH POLICY REFORMS AND THEIR IMPACT ON HEALTHCARE EQUITY IN DEVELOPING ECONOMIES

Abstract

This study looks into the impacts of the recent health policy enhancement on the healthcare equity in some of these emerging economies using a mixed-method experimental study.  To have a complete picture of the impacts of the reforms, we considered both quantitative information of national health information systems and qualitative perspectives of the stakeholders.  The findings indicate that the composite healthcare equity index increased significantly since the policy was implemented. This implies that the socioeconomic, regional, and demographic differences are reduced.  Rural and low-income areas experienced a significant increase in service use although the out-of-pocket costs and catastrophic spending on health decreased, which indicates that financial protection has been improved.  Many more individuals had paid the health insurance and transporting health workers made services more accessible in areas where they were required.  The positive system-wide effects of the changes were also supported by the improvements in maternal, child, and preventive health care.  These trends were supported by qualitative data that showed higher levels of access, higher levels of opinion regarding the quality of treatment, and a reduction in the financial burden of vulnerable groups.  Overall, the combination of quantitative and qualitative perspectives demonstrates that the differentiated alterations in the health policy can turn healthcare into a fairer place in resource-scarce locations.  The paper highlights the need to have sustained policy commitment, inclusive governance and continuous review to safeguard and maximize these accomplishments.