Informal, under-the-table, payments to public health providers is an increasingly important source of health financing in developing and transition countries. With basic funding levels and minimal accountability publicly financed and delivered care falls prey to illegal payments, which can...

Publicly funded and provided health care systems are typically characterized by services that are free of charge, or have nominal user fees collected. This is certainly the case for a number of Former Soviet Union countries - even now - as they struggle to modernize and diversify their health...