Topic Guide: Corruption in Health Services

Budget transparency can limit opportunities for the budget to be misused to serve vested interests. Governments and health authorities need to publish regularly updated information on health budgets and performance at the national and local levels and ideally by individual clinics. The information needs to be published in easy-to-understand formats and in plain language to enhance transparency and possibilities for public scrutiny. Participatory budgeting has also been used as a tool to enhance transparency and accountability by providing citizens with an opportunity to participate in the budget from the formulation stage. Government departments, hospitals, health insurance entities and other agencies handling health resources also need to be subject to robust oversight mechanisms. Regular external and internal audits can help ensure budgets are allocated and spent appropriately.