Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34330199›Full record

ArticleGlobal health action2021

Momentum for policy change: alternative explanations for the increased interest in results-based financing in Uganda.

Freddie Ssengooba, Aloysius Ssennyonjo, Timothy Musila, Elizabeth Ekirapa-Kiracho

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Article in Global health action, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Freddie SsengoobaSchool of Public Health, Makerere University.ORCID 0000-0003-3489-0745
Aloysius SsennyonjoSchool of Public Health, Makerere University.ORCID 0000-0002-5790-4874
Timothy MusilaMinistry of Health, Kampala Uganda, Hanoi, Uganda.
Elizabeth Ekirapa-KirachoSchool of Public Health, Makerere University.ORCID 0000-0001-6938-2068

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundResults-based financing initiatives have been implemented in many countries as stand-alone projects but with little integration into national health systems. Results-based financing became more prominent in Uganda's health policy agenda in 2014-2015 in the context of the policy imperative to finance universal health coverage.

objectiveTo explore plausible explanations for the increased policy interest in the scale-up of results-based financing in Uganda.

methodsIn this qualitative study, information was collected through key informant interviews, consultative meetings (2014 and 2015) and document reviews about agenda-setting processes. The conceptual framework for the analysis was derived from the work of Sabatier, Kingdon and Stone.

resultsFour alternative policy arguments can explain the scale-up of results-based financing in Uganda. They are: 1) external funding opportunities tied to results-based financing create incentives for adopting policies and plans; 2) increased expertise by Ministry of Health officials in the implementation of results-based financing schemes helps frame capacity accumulation arguments; 3) the national ownership argument is supported by increased desire for alignment and fit between results-based financing structures and legitimate institutions that manage the health system; and 4) the health systems argument is backed by evidence of the levers and constraints needed for sustainable performance. Shortages in medicines and workforce are key examples. Overall, the external funding argument was the most compelling.

conclusionThe different explanations illustrate the strengths and the vulnerability of the results-based financing policy agenda in Uganda. In the short term, donor aid has been the main factor shifting the policy agenda in favour of results-based financing. The high cost of results-based financing is likely to slow implementation. If results-based financing is to find a good fit within the Ugandan health system, and other similar settings, then policy and action are needed to improve system readiness.

Indexed as

Health PolicyUniversal Health InsuranceGovernment ProgramsHumansUgandaPolicy changepolicy deliberationsresult-based financingUganda

Identifiers

PMID34330199
PMCPMC8330759

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.