ABSTRACT
Forms of financing healthcare Obviously the way in which any nation finances its healthcare is bound to impact directly on the degree to which the poor can access it. In this regard, the nation itself will usually have what can best be called a 'National Health Policy'. This - ideally - identifies a policy of ensuring access to essential health services on the basis of need, irrespective of ability to pay. But in most third world countries this goal can rarely be realised under present conditions.
