Effect on maternal and child health services in Rwanda of payment to primary health-care providers for performance: an impact evaluation.

/ / Faculty Research in Africa, Research

CGPH FACULTY:Paul Gertler

DATE OF PUBLICATION:April 2011

REGION: Africa

REFERENCE: Basinga P1, Gertler PJ, Binagwaho A, Soucat AL, Sturdy J, Vermeersch CM. Effect on maternal and child health services in Rwanda of payment to primary health-care providers for performance: an impact evaluation. Lancet. 2011 Apr 23;377(9775):1421-8. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60177-3.

SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: Evidence about the best methods with which to accelerate progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals is urgently needed. We assessed the effect of performance-based payment of health-care providers (payment for performance; P4P) on use and quality of child and maternal care services in health-care facilities in Rwanda. The P4P scheme in Rwanda had the greatest effect on those services that had the highest payment rates and needed the least effort from the service provider. P4P financial performance incentives can improve both the use and quality of maternal and child health services, and could be a useful intervention to accelerate progress towards Millennium Development Goals for maternal and child health

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