Reduce financial and other client barriers to accessing health services. | Require establishment of systems and processes to execute and monitor program. |
Allow governments and donors to target subsidies for populations in need, such as poor, youth, and pregnant or postpartum women. | Can be complex to target to defined groups, particularly for groups new to vouchers. Requires measures to mitigate fraud and leakage to general population or non-poor. |
Allow resources to be directed toward key or high-impact health interventions and can stimulate demand for health services and behaviors. | Unclear how they may affect other health services and the overall health system; could result in provider overload if the system is not prepared. |
Create a network of quality-assured health care providers, which can enhance access to services in the short term, and a platform for strategic purchasing in medium to longer term. | Require quality inputs to service providers to improve quality of care; quality inputs also prevent driving up service use without improving health outcomes and client satisfaction. |
Voucher revenue can flow directly to health care providers, which the providers can then reinvest in facilities and services to further improve them. | Program funding may or may not be used to invest in areas that improve services or client satisfaction. |