Innovative Financing of Health Promotion

INTERNATIONAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PUBLIC HEALTH, First Edition, Vol. 3, pp. 624-638, 2008

3 Pages Posted: 19 Dec 2009

See all articles by Viroj Tangcharoensathien

Viroj Tangcharoensathien

International Health Policy Program, Bureau of Policy and Strategy, Ministry of Public Health

Phusit Prakongsai

International Health Policy Program (IHPP) - Thailand; International Health Policy Program (IHPP)

Walaiporn Patcharanarumol

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Supon Limwattananon

International Health Policy Program (IHPP) - Thailand

Supakorn Buasai

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: December 2008

Abstract

This paper synthesizes financing health care in general and health promotion in particular, and reviews experiences of innovative financing of health promotion in selected countries that have a specific dedicated tax for health promotion. The paper also draws on lessons from an in-depth case study in Thailand, a lower-middle income country, of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation which has been established since 2001, focusing on innovative financing and a multisectoral and multidisciplinary approach to health promotion. Results show that there is no innovative financing model for health promotion in low-income countries. The historical evolution of innovative financing for health promotion reveals a close link with existing strong tobacco control measures, especially in price increases and dedicated taxes for health promotion, as in Australia, the U.S., and Thailand. Another financing source is earmarking from social health insurance premiums which are quite limited in low-income countries. It is concluded that achieving success in effective financing of health promotion requires legislation to endorse a fund, and often an independent agency with greater flexibility in the organization and management of funding health promotion projects.

Keywords: health financing, health promotion, dedicated tax, earmarked tax

JEL Classification: I18

Suggested Citation

Tangcharoensathien, Viroj and Prakongsai, Phusit and Prakongsai, Phusit and Patcharanarumol, Walaiporn and Limwattananon, Supon and Buasai, Supakorn, Innovative Financing of Health Promotion (December 2008). INTERNATIONAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PUBLIC HEALTH, First Edition, Vol. 3, pp. 624-638, 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1477282

Viroj Tangcharoensathien (Contact Author)

International Health Policy Program, Bureau of Policy and Strategy, Ministry of Public Health ( email )

3rd Floor Health, Tiwanon road
Muang district
Nonthaburi 11000
Thailand

Phusit Prakongsai

International Health Policy Program (IHPP) - Thailand ( email )

3rd Floor Health, Tiwanon road
Muang district
Nonthaburi, Nonthaburi province 11000
Thailand
+66 2 59052366 (Phone)
+66 2 5902385 (Fax)

International Health Policy Program (IHPP) ( email )

3rd Floor Health, Tiwanon road
Muang district
Nonthaburi, Nonthaburi province 11000
Thailand
+66 2 59052366 (Phone)
+66 2 5902385 (Fax)

Walaiporn Patcharanarumol

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine ( email )

Keppel Street
London, WC1E 7HT
United Kingdom

Supon Limwattananon

International Health Policy Program (IHPP) - Thailand ( email )

3rd Floor Health, Tiwanon road
Muang district
Nonthaburi 11000
Thailand

Supakorn Buasai

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

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