Improving Grassroots Service Delivery Using Results-Based Financing in Vietnam: An Assessment of the Nghe An Pilot

This paper provides a rapid assessment of the pilot and draws lessons for possible expansion of RBF in the country context. After two years of implementation, the results of the pilot are largely positive. The Balanced Score Cards used to measure quality were seen as an effective tool to help with monitoring and supervising the facility performance. The aggregate quality score increased from 70 percent to over 90 percent in participating district hospitals and from 78 percent to 88 percent in commune health stations. Service provision in the commune health stations, the lowest level of the health system, has increased appreciably for 9 out of 14 indicators. Though the pilot had some features that were built on the existing system, the issue of institutionalization remains a challenge for further RBF expansion in the country.