Costing study - Tanzania
A health economist from Health Partners International led a costing study that was undertaken in four districts in Tanzania.
The study, undertaken over six months, reviewed cost and activity data at three levels of health care. It estimated costs of existing health services and made projections for the future.
The findings demonstrated significant variations in the unit costs for similar services, ie:
- between different health service providers - both between non-governmental organisation (NGO) and government providers
- between NGOs themselves
- between government providers
It also noted variations in the efficiency of health care delivery.
The data from the study were used in an interactive model that simulated health expenditure in a district, and analysed the costs of the package of essential health services provided at district level.