Does Provider Autonomy Work Well in Tanzania? Perspectives of Primary Care Facilities on Budget Execution under Direct Facility Financing and Factors Affecting Provider Autonomy in Singida Region

Autor: Peter Binyaruka, John Maiba, Dastan Mshana, Agnes Gatome-Munyua, Gemini Mtei
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Health Systems & Reform, Vol 10, Iss 3 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 23288604
2328-8620
2328-8604
DOI: 10.1080/23288604.2024.2432043
Popis: Primary care facilities’ autonomy and the factors that influence it are understudied. Direct facility financing (DFF) is gaining popularity in low- and middle-income countries as a modality to finance primary care facilities. Tanzania has introduced DFF with the objectives of streamlining resource allocation, fostering fiscal decentralization, and granting autonomy to health facilities for enhanced service readiness and responsiveness. This study aims to contribute evidence on primary care facilities’ autonomy to execute DFF funds and the factors influencing this autonomy.Qualitative interviews and group discussions were conducted with health workers, managers, and community representatives from two councils to understand their perceptions of the autonomy of primary care facilities under DFF and remaining bottlenecks to effective budget execution. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis to explore factors that influence facility autonomy to execute DFF funds.Primary care facilities are well informed on financial management and have adequate autonomy to execute DFF funds. However, several factors constrain their autonomy, including delays in funds disbursement, complex procurement and approval processes, rigid spending caps, restrictions on reallocations, and weaknesses in financial management capacity.DFF is a promising modality for health financing that supports health system goals. However, various challenges continue to hinder the autonomy of frontline service providers to fully execute DFF funds. To improve DFF budget execution, policy makers in Tanzania and elsewhere should consider reforms to better align public financial management and health financing.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals