title: Costing resource gaps for the delivery of minimum essential health services package in the Coast Province, Kenya.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aims to determine the resource gaps in the delivery of MEHSP at the district health system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  District health system, Coast Province, Kenya.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 11 district health system facilities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Resource gaps analysis shows that service provision is sensitive to dominant inputs (availability of buildings, equipment, personnel, drugs and non-pharmaceuticals) at all levels of care. Targeting of the resources in respect of the important inputs is poor at all levels as demonstrated by the wide range of excess and shortages of inputs. The mismatch may have adverse effects on both quantity and quality of services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A deliberate policy for targeting of finances for the important inputs needs to be developed to ensure optimisation of their combinations for minimization of mismatch of resources.
authors.affiliation: University of Nairobi, School of Economics. mmugo@mail.uonbi.ac.ke
authors.forename: Mercy G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mugo
authors.forename: Joseph K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Wang'ombe
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006295:Health Resources / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000191:economics*