Overview

The countries of the Former Soviet Union rely heavily on out-of-pocket spending (OOPS) for health financing. However, OOPS statistics are difficult to compare due to different data collection methodologies. Data are collected either through demand-side data collection, via household surveys, or supply-side data collection, via health clinics, pharmacies, and other suppliers’ data. Demand-side methods are generally unable to distinguish between formal and informal payments, while supply-side methods may capture formal but not official payments. Amalgamated approaches appear highly effective in capturing the extent of OOPS.