The Impact of Structural Adjustment Programs on the Health Sector in the Sudan: A Case of Khartoum State.
Abdul Hameed Elias Suliman
Abstract: This study tries to examine the impact of the macro economic reforms implemented in the context of Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs), especially the most important part of the sectoral reforms relating to the imposition of user charges, on the health sector and on the health seeking behaviour of individuals in the Sudan. The study findings show that economic reforms implemented under the title of economic liberalisation policies in 1992 have led to fundamental changes in the health sector that was running into many difficulties before the introduction of those policies. Health care facilities have been negatively affected by the shortage of finance resulting from the curtailment of government spending allocated to health services and the failure of the new financing mechanism to generate sufficient financial resources. The study recommends the government to take its responsibility towards ensuring health services for all segments of the population.