Addressing financing primary health care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

The Global Health Day 2024, held on 10 September, was a notable success, drawing attention to the critical issue of health care financing in low- and middle-income countries. The event, attended by more than 200 people, featured a series of insightful presentations and an engaging panel discussion.

Keynote speaker Abebe Alebachew, a health economist and member of the Lancet Global Health Commission, provided an overview of the Commission’s report on financing primary health care. The report emphasised the importance of public resources in funding primary health care and the need for equitable allocation of these resources across different service levels and geographic areas. 

Following Alebachew, Suneth Agampodi and Sabine Damerow presented cases from Sri Lanka and Guinea-Bissau, and the talks where concluded by Joe Kutzin who did a talk on Financing Universal Health Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

The symposium also highlighted the political and economic challenges in implementing the report's recommendations, stressing the need for a comprehensive approach that includes political economy analysis. The interactive panel discussion allowed participants to delve deeper into these issues, fostering a collaborative environment for sharing ideas and solutions.

Overall, Global Health Day 2024 successfully brought together experts, policymakers, and students to address the complexities of health care financing, paving the way for future advancements in global health.

Watch the presentations below

Overview of The Lancet Global Health Commission’s report on financing primary health care

Current challenges faced by Sri Lanka in maintaining a long-time emphasis on primary health care

Challenges faced in low-income settings: The case of maternal and child healthcare in Guinea-Bissau

Financing Universal Health Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Panel discussion