Economic Tools for Rural Health Planning

The full contribution of hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, etc to the rural economy often goes unrecognized. Quality health services are needed to attract businesses, and required for rural populations with a high proportion of elderly. This paper will share economic tools which can be used in any country to assist rural leaders in maintaining and advancing their health services. More specifically: 1. Health impact model to measure the economic impact of the health sector on a local economy 2. Community engagement tool to evaluate local health services; and 3. Health budget tools to determine the feasibility of a specific health service.