PMAC 2020
Parallel Session 2.1
Making and Using (Fiscal) Space for UHC
Saturday, 1st February 2020
Sheena Chhabra, Ajay Tandon, Marielle Bemelmans, Thant Sin Htoo,
Joseph Kutzin, Nathaniel Otoo
Side Meeting
Opening Session
Plenary Session 0
Plenary Session 1
Parallel Session 1.2
Parallel Session 1.4
Plenary Session 2
Parallel Session 2.1
Parallel Session 2.2
Parallel Session 2.3
Parallel Session 2.5
Parallel Session 3.2
Public financing is essential for universal health coverage. However, for LMICs, increasing public funding is difficult thing to do. There is also the issue of low budget execution, the existence of gap between allocation and expenditure, where some countries are unable to use all the budgeted resources for health. This session suggested solutions to assist in solving problems related to financial aspect of UHC. To bring fiscal space in favor for health sector, some actions that could be taken are addressing the overall macro/fiscal issue such as through tax reform, re-prioritized which for instance by focusing on primary health care, reformation of public finance management which maybe done through output-based budget allocation.
Furthermore, civil society organizations also could contribute in fiscal space debate, including advocacy for expanding fiscal space for health, providing a platform for shared understanding of fiscal space for health, and facilitating government accountability. In addition, it is also suggested that in order to engage ministry of finance, ministry of health needs to present evidence on the impact of health investment, that is, how the investment in health improves not only health outcomes but also contributes to development of human capital and economy of the country.
