Removing user fees for primary health care services during humanitarian crises

Overview

This paper, produced by the Global Health Cluster, provides guidance to policy-makers and other health
actors for the removal of user fees for the provision of primary health care (PHC) services during
humanitarian crises. Reflecting international consensus, it provides guidance for humanitarian agencies for
reducing the financial barriers to access to PHC services by removing user fees and the risks imposed by user
fees, i.e., catastrophic health expenditures. It is based on the humanitarian principle of impartiality and on
human rights, which state that humanitarian interventions should be provided ‘based on needs alone’, be
accessible without discrimination, and be affordable for all.