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CSM and the myth of self-sufficiency.


 The author of this letter asserts that self-sufficiency should not be regarded as a goal for contraceptive social marketing programs. Rather, the emphasis should be on increasing the number and effectiveness of social marketing programs. There will be a need for subsidized family planning programs as long as there is poverty. The only way a social marketing program can achieve financial self-sufficiency is to price contraceptives beyond the reach of the intended beneficiaries of the program. At present, condom buyers in Bangladesh spend about US$1/year for contraceptives purchased through the social marketing program; this amount is equivalent to 1 day's wage. Although contraceptive social marketing programs may seem expensive, their tremendous success in reaching ever growing numbers of rural and urban constantly reduces the cost for each couple supplied with contraception. Moreover, unlike most other family planning programs, contraceptive social marketing projects do recover at least a small part of their costs through sales.
