Development assistance for health in central and eastern European Region.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to quantify development assistance for health to countries of central and eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CEE-CIS).


METHODS
We used the International Development Statistics database of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the database on development assistance for health compiled for the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health to quantify health development assistance to the region, compared to global and overall development assistance. We based our analysis on standard health indicators, including child mortality, life expectancy at birth and health expenditures.


RESULTS
Although total development assistance per capita to CEE-CIS was higher than that for most other regions of the world, development assistance for health was very low compared to other countries with similar levels of child mortality, life expectancy at birth and national expenditures on health.


CONCLUSIONS
The allocation of development assistance for health on a global scale seems to be related far more to child mortality rather than adult mortality. Countries of CEE-CIS have a high burden of adult morbidity and mortality from non-communicable diseases, which does not appear to attract proportionate development assistance. Levels of development assistance for health should be determined in consideration of the region's particular burden of disease.
Suhrcke
Marc
M
WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development, Venice, Italy. msu@ihd.euro.who.int
Rechel
Bernd
B
Michaud
Catherine
C
D002648:Child; D046688:Child Mortality / Q000639:trends; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005061:Europe, Eastern / Q000453:epidemiology; D005378:Financial Support; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008017:Life Expectancy / Q000639:trends; D009026:Mortality; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics; D040841:Resource Allocation