In 2010 the Government of Sierra Leone established the Free Health Care Initiative removing user fees (on drugs and consultations) for pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under five. The major objective of the scheme, as far as health financing was concerned, was to reduce the strain on households from out of pocket expenditure on health and ensure financial risk protection for the most vulnerable population. This brief looks at financing changes following the initiative’s launch, and focuses on the pre-Ebola outbreak years (2010-2013). It further outlines financing flows changed and highlights some of the major strengths and weaknesses in resourcing the initiative.
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