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Banking on health: the surging pandemic of health financialization

Dentico N. Society for International Development (SID) (2023) CC

In the last three decades, health financialization has surged in several creative ways, yet this growing phenomenon remains surprisingly unknown, and neglected, in the global health arena. Financialization in the health domain could be described as the uncontrolled expansion of finance along vari... more

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Africa’s Health Financing in a New Era

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) (2025) CC

Africa’s health sector is facing an unprecedented financing crisis, driven by a sharp decline of 70% in Official Development Assistance (ODA) from 2021 to 2025 and deep-rooted structural vulnerabilities. This collapse is placing immense pressure on Africa’s already fragile health systems as ODA ...is seen as the backbone of critical health programs: pandemic preparedness, maternal and child health services, disease control programs are all at risk, threatening Sustainable Development Goal 3 and Universal Health Coverage. Compounding this is Africa’s spiraling debt, with countries expected to service USD 81 billion by 2025—surpassing anticipated external financing inflows—further eroding fiscal space for health investments. Level of domestic resources is low. TThe Abuja Declaration of 2001, a pivotal commitment made by African Union (AU) member states, aimed to reverse this trend by pledging to allocate at least 15% of national budgets to the health sector. However, more than two decades later, only three countries—Rwanda, Botswana, and Cabo Verde—have consistently met or exceeded this target (WHO, 2023). In contrast, over 30 AU member states remain well below the 10% benchmark, with some allocating as little as 5–7% of their national budgets to health. In addition, only 16 (29%) of African countries currently have updated versions of National Health Development Plan (NHDP) supported by a National Health Financing Plan (NHFP). These two documents play a critical role in driving internal resource mobilisation. At the same time, public health emergencies are surging, rising 41%—from 152 in 2022 to 213 in 2024—exposing severe under-resourcing of health infrastructure and workforce. Recurring outbreaks (Mpox, Ebola, cholera, measles, Marburg…) alongside effects of climate change and humanitarian crises in Eastern DRC, the Sahel, and Sudan, are overwhelming systems stretched by chronic underfunding. The situation is worsened by Africa’s heavy dependency with over 90% of vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics being externally sourced—leaving countries vulnerable to global supply chain shocks. Health worker shortages persist, with only 2.3 professionals per 1,000 people (below the WHO’s recommended 4.45), and fewer than 30% of systems are digitized, undermining disease surveillance and early warning. Without decisive action, Africa CDC projects the continent could reverse two decades of health progress, face 2 to 4 million additional preventable deaths annually, and a heightened risk of a pandemic emerging from within. Furthermore, 39 million more Africans could be pushed into poverty by 2030 due to intertwined health and economic shocks. This is not just a sectoral crisis—it is an existential threat to Africa’s political, social, and economic resilience, and global stability. In response, African leaders, under Africa CDC’s stewardship, are advancing a comprehensive three-pillar strategy centered on domestic resource mobilization, innovative financing, and blended finance. more

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Health for All – transforming economies to deliver what matters: Final report of the WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All

World Health Organization (WHO) (2023) CC

The Council was established in late 2020 by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Director-General, WHO) to provide new economic thinking – reassessing how health and wellbeing are valued, produced and distributed across the economy. An all-female group of 10 distinguished economists and area experts, t... more

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Health Financing Progress Matrix assessment, Kenya 2023: summary of findings and recommendations

Kenya Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO) (2024) CC

This comprehensive HPFM report thoroughly explores Kenya’s health financing landscape. It provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of affairs and sheds light on required strategic changes in health financing. The report points out the need to improve public financial management within th... more

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Financing the Pandemic Cycle: Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery and Reconstruction

Fan V. Y., Kim S., Pineda D., et al. Center for Global Development (2024) CC

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical gaps in the global response to health crises, particularly in the financing of pandemic prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, and reconstruction. This chapter presents a comprehensive framework for pandemic financing that spans the entire pandemic cycle... more

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A healthy return: Investment case for a sustainably financed WHO

World Health Organization (WHO) (2022) CC

There has never been a more critical moment to invest in WHO, and strengthen the unique role it plays in global health. Now is the time to sustainably finance WHO and invest in a healthy return for all.

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Political economy analysis for health financing: A ‘how to’ guide

World Health Organization (WHO) (2024) CC

This Guide is part of WHO’s overall programme of work on Political Economy of Health Financing Reform: Analysis and Strategy to Support UHC. The impetus for this work came from demands for more concrete evidence, recognition and integration of political economy issues within health financing, and... more

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What next for UK development assistance under the next government?

Buse K., McKee M. British Medical Journal (BMJ) (2024) CC

The UK could regain its leadershipin the provision of development assistance for healthunder the next government. But this doesn’t seem likely if the party manifestos are any guide.

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WHO guidelines on meningitis diagnosis, treatment and care. Web Annex B. Qualitative and economic evidence reports
recommended

World Health Organization WHO (2025) C_WHO

The guidelines are primarily intended for health-care professionals working in first- or second-level health-care facilities, including emergency, inpatient and outpatient services. They are also directed at policy-makers, health-care planners and programme managers, academic institutions, non-gover... more

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Liberia: Demographic and Health Survey 2019-2020

Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) Monrovia, Liberia The DHS Program ICF (2021) C2

The LDHS provides an opportunity to inform policy and provide data for planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of national health programs. It is designed to provide up-to-date information on health indicators including fertility levels, sexual activity, fertility preferences, awaren... more

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Guidelines for the Management of Tuberculosis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Sexually-Transmitted Infections in Correctional facilities 2013

Department of Health, Republic of South Africa (2013) C1

The guidelines acknowledge that overcrowding, unhygienic conditions and high inmate turn over contribute to the spread of infectious diseases within correctional facilities. The document states that voluntary HIV counselling and testing must be offered to all inmates when they enter facilities, duri... more

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Comprehensive mental health action plan 2013–2020
recommended

World Health Organization WHO (2021) C_WHO

This updated Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030 builds upon its predecessor and sets out clear actions for Member States, the WHO Secretariat and international, regional and national partners to promote mental health and well-being for all, to prevent mental health conditions for thos... more

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Investment Process in Ethiopia's Health Sector

Ministry of Health Ethiopia (2016) CC

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Age-friendly Primary Health Care (PHC) Centres Toolkit

World Health Organization WHO (2008) C_WHO

The toolkit's purpose is to: improve the primary health care response for older persons. sensitize and educate primary health care workers about the specific needs of their older clients. provide primary care health workers with a set of tools/instruments to assess older people's hea... more

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Fair allocation mechanism for COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility

World Health Organization WHO (2020) C_WHO

9 September 2020 In a snapshot, fair allocation of vaccines will occur in the following way: An initial proportional allocation of doses to countries until all countries reach enough quantities to cover 20% of their population This document is also available in Arabic | Chinese | French | R... more

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Sphere Handbook in Haitian Creole
recommended

Sphere (2011) CC

The Sphere Handbook "Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response" is now available in Haitian Creole. This translation has been coordinated by Oxfam Canada and funded by the following members of the Policy Action Group on Emergency Response (PAGER Canada): World Vision Canada,... more

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Mauritius National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2017-2021

Ministry of Health and Quality of Life Mauritius (2017) C2

Antimicrobial resistance has become a serious public health threat for effective treatment of an ever increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi. When infections can no longer be treated by first-line antibiotics, other antibiotics must be used, which are both mo... more

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Working with Individuals, Families and Communities to Improve Maternal and Newborn Health. Module 3

World Health Organization WHO; PAHO Pan American Health Organization, Enfant du Monde (2017) C_WHO

A toolkit for Implementation. Module 3: Participatory community assessment in maternal and newborn health

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Liberia Malaria Indicator Survey 2011

National Malaria Control Program - NMCPLiberia, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare DHS (2011) C1

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WHO recommendations on induction of labour, at or beyond term

World Health Organization WHO (2022) C_WHO

The primary audience for these recommendations includes health professionals who are responsible for developing national and local health-care guidelines and protocols and health workers involved in the provision of care to women and their newborns during pregnancy, labour and childbirth; this inclu... more

WHO guidelines on meningitis diagnosis, treatment and care. Web Annex B. Qualitative and economic evidence reports recommended

Comprehensive mental health action plan 2013–2020 recommended

Sphere Handbook in Haitian Creole recommended

WHO guidelines on meningitis diagnosis, treatment and care. Web Annex B. Qualitative and economic evidence reports
recommended

Comprehensive mental health action plan 2013–2020
recommended

Sphere Handbook in Haitian Creole
recommended