29 October 2007: Global Safe Abortion Conference - Output-based aid (OBA) forging partnerships between government and the private sector
At the Global Safe Abortion Conference, which took place in London during 23-24 October, participants from numerous countries shared their experiences in providing health services through the use of Output-based aid (OBA). Whereas traditional health funding has provided inputs – including construction, staff and equipment – to hospitals and clinics, delegates heard examples of how OBA reimburses private providers for actual services delivered. A representative from West Bengal’s Department of Health and Family Planning in India expressed her view that using public money to provide health services through private providers benefits the end user – with greater access to services, delivered with greater quality and efficiency.
MSI is at the forefront of a growing trend toward OBA, with governments either contracting out MSI services or involving MSI Partners in voucher programmes. For example, Marie Stopes Kenya’s clinics and outreach services provide safe delivery and long term contraceptive methods to the holders of vouchers distributed in low-income areas. In Uganda, vouchers can be redeemed at MSI clinics for STI services, while in Pakistan, women will soon be able to access high quality services from over 300 private providers accredited by Marie Stopes Society. All these programmes help to focus attention on the ‘output’ of health sector spending: the number of people reached and the quality of the services provided.
Some delegates expressed the view that OBA programmes should be expanded in the developing world to additional countries, and existing programmes should be scaled-up to include a variety of services – including safe abortion, where legal.
Delegates heard from a representative of the UK National Health Service (NHS) Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust, who contracts-out safe abortion services to MSI in the UK. Not only does MSI provide safe abortion at an average of £250 less than the NHS services previously serving women in the area, but client satisfaction has vastly improved due to the higher standards, 24 hour booking service, counselling and choice of methods now available to women.