Safeguarding the Health Sector in Times of Macroeconomic Instability presents the results of an international initiative to document the effects of how health systems in the developing world have responded to macroeconomic austerity and adjustment measures. Are these systems flexible and resilient to changes or are they rigid? In which circumstances and under which conditions do health systems respond favourably or unfavourably? What are the success stories? Country studies from Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, India, Thailand, Mexico, and Colombia discuss lessons learned and identify policy measures for safeguarding the health sector.

This book provides a fresh look at the relationships between macroeconomic policy and interventions, health sector reform, and the health system in general, presenting new and detailed observations to inform policy choices within the health-care sector worldwide. It is unique in its focus on health systems and services (including financing, quality, accessibility, and utilization), rather than on health status. It will be of interest to academics, researchers, and students studying or active in health sciences and international development studies; professionals and practitioners in donor organizations, development organizations, and NGOs worldwide; and policy advisors and decision-makers in the health-care sector.

ABOUT THE EDITORS
Slim Haddad, PhD, is a physician specialized in public health and a health economist. He is a Professor in the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine at the Université de Montréal, where he teaches planning and evaluation of public health programs, health economics, and health and social justice. Dr. Haddad has coordinated numerous studies in low- and middle-income countries. His areas of expertise include health services research and the evaluation of health policies and services. His work has focused particularly on evaluating the impacts and analyzing the distributive effects of health policies, health sector reform, and health-financing mechanisms such as micro-insurance.

Enis Baris, Senior Public Health Specialist at the World Bank is a physician with graduate degrees in public health (MSc) and epidemiology (PhD), with specialization in health services. Dr. Baris has a wide range of experience in development and research in over 30 countries. He has initiated and managed multiple single and multi-country research and development projects on macroeconomic adjustment policies and health sector reform, decentralization and access to care, health-care reform, and tuberculosis control.

Delampady Narayana is Research Fellow at the Centre for Development Studies (CDS), Kerala, India where he has taught for 25 years. Dr. Narayana earned his PhD at the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata. From 1994 to 95, he was a Fulbright scholar at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies and Visiting Professor at Unité de Santé Internationale, Montreal, Canada between January and June 2006. His areas of current interest are decentralized governance and health care services. He is also actively involved in capacity building at the level of the local government and with women’s self help groups in Kerala.

CATEGORY
Economics, Health Science/AFRICA