Community financing of drugs in sub‐Saharan Africa

'Health for all by the year 2000' is unlikely to be achieved in a number of Third World countries, including those in Sub-Saharan Africa, if reliance is placed solely on the public health budget. This article looks at a range of alternative and additional sources of revenue and, in particular, at the scope for community financing of drugs. Developments in the region are reviewed for their insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each financing scheme; and, as a guide to shaping policies that make an appropriate choice of method of health care financing.