Health Financing: a Strategy for the African Region Report of the Regional Director

Abstract

1. The manner in which a health system is financed affects its stewardship, input creation, serviceprovision and achievement of goals such as good health, responsiveness to people’s non-medicalexpectations (‎short waiting times, respect for dignity, cleanliness of physical facilities, qualitymeals)‎ and fair financial contributions, so that individuals are not exposed to great financial risk ofimpoverishment.2. Countries of the Region are confronted with a number of key challenges including lowinvestment in health; low economic growth rates; dearth of comprehensive health financing policiesand strategic plans; extensive out-of-pocket payments; limited financial access to health services;limited coverage by health insurance; lack of social safety nets to protect the poor; inefficientresource use; ineffective aid; and weak mechanisms for coordinating partner support in the healthsector.3. In order to reach the health-related Millennium Development Goals (‎MDGs)‎ and achievenational health development objectives, national health systems in the African Region urgently needmore money; greater equity in health services financing and accessibility; efficient use of healthresources; and expanded coverage of health services, especially those targeting the poor. Countriesare urged to institutionalize national health accounts to facilitate financial planning, monitoring andevaluation.