The Demand for Curative Health Care in Jimma town:

In this study the demand for curative health care in Jimma town was estimated using Nested Multinomial Logit Model(NMLM). The model was estimated based on the primary data collected from Jimma town through sample survey in February 2003. The estimated model shows that the level of healthiness, family structure, consumption level, patient's age and perceived quality of treatment are the factors that determine the demand for curative health care. Furthermore, the demand for curative health care is price insensitive and the insensitiveness decreases as prices increases and as income decrease. The implication is that a slight differentiated increase in price of curative care service in the public health care providers will result in a substantial increase in revenue without significant loss in a consumer's welfare. To achieve the stated advantage, the increase in user fees should be followed by improvement in quality of curative care services in public health care providers. Increasing user fees and quality of services simultaneously help achieving dual benefit of increased revenue and health service utilization.

Autorentext

Mr. Tesfaye Arega obtained a BSc degree in Statistics and an MSc degree in Economic Policy Analysis from Addis Ababa University in 1994 and 2003 respectively. He has been working as a Statistician and health management information system (HMIS) specialist. Currently he is an HMIS manger for National HIV/AIDS Care and Support Program in Ethiopia.