Functional health development model: a tool for planning.

This paper describes a functional model (gross style) taking available information about the health sector e.g. indicators of health status, types of service utilization, source allocations and placing these quantities into a systematic framework as a tool for planning for health services in a developing area. The major advantages of functional models over trial-and-error for planning have been presented. The functional model described could contribute to the sorting out of desirable from less desirable policy alternatives for a specific population. The output from the model is useful for matching resources to program development, taking into consideration costs and effectiveness.