title: EPIC Studies: Governments Finance, On Average, More Than 50 Percent Of Immunization Expenses, 2010-11.
abstract: Governments in resource-poor settings have traditionally relied on external donor support for immunization. Under the Global Vaccine Action Plan, adopted in 2014, countries have committed to mobilizing additional domestic resources for immunization. Data gaps make it difficult to map how well countries have done in spending government resources on immunization to demonstrate greater ownership of programs. This article presents findings of an innovative approach for financial mapping of routine immunization applied in Benin, Ghana, Honduras, Moldova, Uganda, and Zambia. This approach uses modified System of Health Accounts coding to evaluate data collected from national and subnational levels and from donor agencies. We found that government sources accounted for 27-95 percent of routine immunization financing in 2011, with countries that have higher gross national product per capita better able to finance requirements. Most financing is channeled through government agencies and used at the primary care level. Sustainable immunization programs will depend upon whether governments have the fiscal space to allocate additional resources. Ongoing robust analysis of routine immunization should be instituted within the context of total health expenditure tracking.
authors: Logan Brenzel (Logan.Brenzel@gatesfoundation.org) is a senior program officer in cost-effectiveness, vaccine delivery, and global development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Washington, D.C.
authors: Logan
authors: L
authors: Brenzel
authors: Carl Schütte is a consultant at Strategic Development Consultants, in Manderston, South Africa.
authors: Carl
authors: C
authors: Schütte
authors: Keti Goguadze is business development unit director at the Curatio International Foundation, in Tbilisi, Georgia.
authors: Keti
authors: K
authors: Goguadze
authors: Werner Valdez is an independent consultant in La Paz, Bolivia.
authors: Werner
authors: W
authors: Valdez
authors: Jean-Bernard Le Gargasson is program leader in health economics and medical anthropology at l'Agence de Médecine Préventive, in Ferney-Voltaire, France.
authors: Jean-Bernard
authors: JB
authors: Le Gargasson
authors: Teresa Guthrie is director of Guthrie Consult, in Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Guthrie
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics*; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000191:economics*; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000191:economics*; D014612:Vaccines / Q000191:economics
chemical_list: D014612:Vaccines
keywords: financing; funding flows; immunization; resource tracking