Context: In the context of deepening global health disparities, exacerbated by historical injustices, power imbalances, and the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent call for transformative action, as highlighted in the G20 Independent Experts Group report. A noticeable misalignment exists between global and local health priorities, signaling the need for a dedicated platform to facilitate meaningful dialogue and alignment with national needs, particularly from developing regions and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This shift necessitates moving from paternalistic approaches to inclusive discussions that uphold national sovereignty and prioritize holistic well-being.
The week of October 23, 2023, marks a significant moment in global health, with the international community commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Alma-Ata Declaration and the 5th anniversary of the Astana Declaration, both central to the transformation of primary health care (PHC) and the achievement of universal health coverage (UHC). This conference serves as a strategic forum to evaluate progress, share diverse country experiences, and outline forward-looking policies for sustained PHC transformation.
In alignment with this global discourse, key multilateral partners such as the Global Fund, World Bank, WHO, Asian Development Bank,the relevant health financing networks P4H and Sustainable Financing for Health Accelerator (SFHA) with representation of bi-lateral partners and country representatives are collaborating to host the “Aligning Health Financing for Sustainable Impact: Implications of Decolonisation of ODA” event. This initiative aims to scrutinize the role of healthcare financing in advancing UHC and PHC while addressing the imperative to decolonize global health governance. Through this engagement, we aim to contribute actionable insights from country experiences and strategies grounded in equity, justice, and the principles of decolonization, fostering a more sustainable, inclusive and equitable global health landscape.
Proposed Themes and Sessions:
Donor Alignment in Fragile Settings and Financing Integrated Services:
Context: Delving into the complexities of healthcare financing in fragile settings, using multiple country examples to explore donor alignment and integrated service financing.
Objective: To derive lessons from country experiences, identifying ways to enhance donor alignment and promote financing models that support integrated services and contribute to health system resilience.
Achieving Synergies between Vertical Programs/Donors; and country priorities
Context: Addressing the misalignments between vertical health programs, broader health systems, and donor priorities, with a focus on creating synergies that strengthen UHC and PHC, while keeping focus on key sustainability, value for money and equity issues.
Objective: To develop strategies for harmonizing vertical programs with national health systems as per country context, ensuring that healthcare financing contributes to resilient and equitable health systems.
Financing Pandemic Preparedness and Response as part of OneHealth Agenda
Context: The outbreak of infectious diseases can have detrimental effects on health systems and economies, which makes pandemic preparedness imperative.
Objective: To understand the intricate relationship between infectious disease outbreaks and pandemic preparedness. Drawing insights from real-world scenarios, this theme will highlight the urgency of including pandemic preparedness and onhealth focus in health financing strategies, ensuring a resilient and sustainable response to future threats.
Building Inclusivity and Equality in Global Health Governance
Context: Examining the structural inequalities in global health governance, and identifying pathways toward a more sustainable, inclusive, equitable, and decolonized system.
Objective: To establish actionable plans for transforming global health governance, ensuring that it is representative of, and responsive to, the needs of traditionally marginalized communities.
1) Facilitate Knowledge Exchange and Best Practices: To create a dynamic platform for sharing insights, experiences, and best practices related to healthcare financing for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Primary Health Care (PHC), particularly focusing on fragile settings, integrated services, and donor alignment.
2. Promote equity in Global Health Governance: Given the challenge of power imbalances, dependencies, and inequities in global health, this objective strives to foster discussions and strategies towards a more equitable, country-owned, and community-led global health agenda, ensuring that health systems and services are tailored to the unique needs and contexts of marginalized and underserved populations.
3. Strengthen Synergies and Alignment in Health Financing: To identify and advocate for mechanisms that enhance synergies between vertical programs, donor priorities, and national health systems, with the aim of achieving a more coherent, aligned, and efficient use of resources for UHC and PHC. This objective also seeks to explore sustainable and transparent financing models that reduce dependency on external funding and promote local capacity building and resilience in health systems.