This paper reviews the essential components of health care delivery systems in Arab countries and their development over the past 3 decades. The changes and challenges which evolved during the last half of the 20th century have had a significant impact on health systems and on health outcomes. An adequate network of hospitals and primary health care facilities has been established in most Arab countries of the Region. The increased participation of civil society has impacted positively on health systems. However, the main challenge is represented by the move towards market economies. In many developing economies, macroeconomic reforms have often necessitated cuts in public spending on social sectors. Cost-sharing policies have been implemented in order to compensate for diminishing government budgets allocated to health. However, this is not to minimize the enormous strides that have been made in all countries nor the important challenges that need to be addressed.
BT - Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23301398?dopt=Abstract CN - KRONFOL 2012 DA - 2012 Dec IS - 12 J2 - East. Mediterr. Health J. LA - eng N2 -This paper reviews the essential components of health care delivery systems in Arab countries and their development over the past 3 decades. The changes and challenges which evolved during the last half of the 20th century have had a significant impact on health systems and on health outcomes. An adequate network of hospitals and primary health care facilities has been established in most Arab countries of the Region. The increased participation of civil society has impacted positively on health systems. However, the main challenge is represented by the move towards market economies. In many developing economies, macroeconomic reforms have often necessitated cuts in public spending on social sectors. Cost-sharing policies have been implemented in order to compensate for diminishing government budgets allocated to health. However, this is not to minimize the enormous strides that have been made in all countries nor the important challenges that need to be addressed.
PY - 2012 SP - 1229 EP - 38 T2 - Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit TI - Delivery of health services in Arab countries: a review. UR - http://applications.emro.who.int/emhj/v18/12/EMHJ_2012_18_12_1229_1238.pdf VL - 18 SN - 1020-3397 ER -