title: Diagnosis of a public policy: an introduction to user fee exemptions for healthcare in the Sahel.
abstract: During the last ten years, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have opted for selective user fee exemption policies, while remaining within the general framework of cost recovery. But they have each developed their own particular institutional mechanisms, different from those of their neighbour. This was the topic of a comparative research program combining both quantitative and qualitative surveys over a four-year period. This special issue presents papers setting exemption policies in the wider context of public policy and the day-to-day functioning of health systems (part 1); presenting overarching case studies (part 2); and reflecting on our methodological approach (part 3).
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Olivier de Sardan
authors.forename: Valéry
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ridde
mesh_terms: D002050:Burkina Faso; D005251:Fees, Medical; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008302:Mali; D009548:Niger; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration