Under the new Health Impact Investment Platform, the first Country Health Investment Plans are being implemented, translating initial promises into real-world operations. A groundbreaking partnership between Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), the World Health Organization (WHO) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is addressing the critical need for coordinated efforts to strengthen primary health care (PHC) in vulnerable and underserved communities and build resilience against pandemic threats such as MPOX and the climate crisis.
The new funding was signed during a high-level roundtable meeting on the sidelines of the UN Future Summit in New York today, with partners agreeing to consult to identify needs and plan health improvements in 15 countries*.
The roundtable was attended by the Partnership’s three founding MDBs – the African Development Bank (AfDB), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), WHO, as well as Heads of State and Government, and the Finance and Health Ministers of Djibouti, Egypt and Ethiopia. The Asian Development Bank also attended the High-Level Meeting and announced its intention to join the Health Impact Investment Platform and to scale the initiative to regions where the Platform operates.
The EIB and WHO have signed an initial contribution of €10 million to begin the implementation of these investment plans, and the Islamic Development Bank and the African Development Bank are finalizing contributions of the same amount to be signed in the near future.
The Platform is a key part of efforts to unlock €1.5 billion in preferential loans and grants to expand and improve essential health services in low- and middle-income countries, particularly the most vulnerable communities. Investment plans currently being developed in these 15 countries as part of the first phase are expected to represent a significant portion of this financing effort.
The Platform aims to work closely with governments to develop national health strategies with a focus on primary health care and prioritize investment opportunities to meet national health needs. Today’s kickoff comes one year after the Platform was launched at the New Global Financial Compact summit in Paris.
“Incorporating the private sector, communities and various forms of financing is key to driving health progress,” said Dr. Ibrahima Sy, Minister of Health of the Republic of Senegal. “The engagement of WHO, multilateral development banks and countries is essential to channel investments from this platform, provide essential healthcare on the ground and develop local vaccine manufacturing capacity.”
Uganda’s Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Asen, said: “I congratulate them on this very important policy. All of our problems are actually rooted at the primary health care level. Whether it’s disease outbreaks or access to health care, it’s all at the primary health care level, that’s where our diseases start and end.”
“Primary health care is the most equitable, cost-effective and comprehensive way to improve health and well-being, helping keep people healthy, prevent disease and detect outbreaks at their earliest stages,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “The Health Impact Investment Platform will provide a critical new source of financing to build climate- and crisis-resilient primary health care in some of the countries that need it most. WHO thanks the multilateral development banks for their collaboration and is committed to working closely with countries to leverage these funds and make a difference in the communities we support.”
Nadia Calvino, President of the European Investment Bank, said: “A year ago we launched our Health Impact Investing Platform, and today we take the next step by helping countries develop investment plans tailored to their specific needs. Supporting essential health services is the foundation of strong communities. Guided by the expertise of the World Health Organization, and working closely with other multilateral development banks and partner countries, we are making a difference.”
“Global health security is only as strong as its weakest link. The new Fund announced today will help countries improve primary health care, which is essential to halt disease outbreaks. In addition to the Fund, the Platform will strengthen partnerships with countries and donors to ensure that resources are invested effectively.”
Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO estimated that low- and lower-middle-income countries would need to significantly increase their health spending to achieve the health-related Sustainable Development Goals, requiring a total of US$371 billion in additional funding per year by 2030. This money would help people get health services, contribute to the construction of new facilities, and train and deploy health workers where they are needed. It is also estimated that investments on the order of US$31.1 billion per year would be needed to prepare for future pandemics. About one-third of that total would have to come from international sources.
The new platform builds on experience gained through collaborations between countries, multilateral organizations and development banks that proved fruitful during the pandemic. For example, WHO, the EIB and the European Commission helped strengthen health systems in Angola, Ethiopia and Rwanda. Initially launched as stand-alone programs or as part of national COVID-19 responses, these interventions mobilized technical assistance, grants and investments on favorable terms to build or implement primary health care-related interventions.
The 15 countries identified as part of the first phase of the Health Impact Investment Platform are:
Burundi Central African Republic Comoros Djibouti Egypt Ethiopia Gambia Guinea-Bissau Jordan Maldives Morocco Senegal South Sudan Tunisia Zambia
sauce:
World Health Organization
