Economic analysis of ASHA-soft programme (online payment and monitoring system) in Jodhpur, Rajasthan

• Published in: Journal of family medicine and primary care Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 1040 - 1046
• Main Authors: Joshi, Nitin, Bhardwaj, Pankaj, Suthar, Praveen, Singh, Kuldeep, Joshi, Vibha, Manda, Balwant
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.03.2022; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: benefits and costs; community health workers; decision-making; health services; Online payment services; Original; pay for performance; policy analysis; India; policy analysis; Benefits and costs; decision-making; health services; community health workers; pay for performance
• ISSN: 2249-4863; 2278-7135
• DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1266_21

Context: The Government of India under a performance-based payment scheme is providing remuneration as per the activities completed by the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) health workers. Each state in India has a differentperformance-based payment system for ASHAs. The state of Rajasthan developed the ASHA-Soft system in 2014 for providing incentives to ASHAs. Aims: This study is planned to analyze the performance of ASHA-Soft considering the economic aspects as there is a paucity of studies in this context. Settings and Design: This study was conducted in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Methods and Material: Economic analysis of ASHA-Soft program was performed based on Incentive paid to ASHA workers; Number of beneficiaries; Overall contribution of ASHAs in the health services; and unit cost per health service under ASHA-Soft program. Data of five financial years, that is, from the inception of ASHA-Soft was analyzed. Results: Consolidated incentive for maternal health, child health, and Immunization services provided to ASHAs through ASHA-Soft in the year 2015--16 was $96794.22, $35348.32, and $49016.83 which increased to $200285.00, $116320.52, and $101686.48 in the year 2019-20, respectively. Family planning and national program services were provided to 6,259 and 4,061 beneficiaries, respectively, in the year 2015--16 which markedly increased to 16,360 and 9,552 in the year 2019--20. Unit-cost of service provided by ASHAs in the National Programme ($1.13) was the lowest and for Family Planning Services ($5.71) were the highest. Conclusions: ASHA-Soft program seems a potential program to attract ASHA workers for delivering health care services. The findings of this study could assist policymakers in guiding further decision-making.