Preconditions for health reform: experiences from the OECD countries.

This paper discusses the basic conditions necessary for the successful implementation of health sector reforms. Lessons from health sector reforms in the 24 western industrialized member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are discussed and applied in the context of reform efforts in developing countries. Reform areas addressed include: public and private institutional infrastructure development, financing arrangements, benefit design, eligibility determination, reimbursement and cost control methods, and service delivery system configurations.