The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), recently organized a 2-day roundtable discussion to discuss priority strategies and reforms to expedite progress towards achieving sustainable and effective health financing in Uganda.
The roundtable brought together experts in health financing from various government ministries, departments, agencies, development partners, and academia to share evidence-based information on Uganda’s health financing landscape. The aim is to identify policy and practice recommendations to enhance the performance of the health system and meet the healthcare needs of the population.
Countries are committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as part of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure universal access to quality healthcare without financial hardship. However, some countries, including Uganda, are facing challenges hindering their progress towards UHC.
During the opening ceremony, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, Uganda’s Minister of Health, emphasized the need to streamline health resources to align with government priorities and minimize duplication and wastage. She called for resources to be channeled through a single system for efficiency and coordination.
The Ministry of Health, with WHO and partners’ support, has made significant strides in improving Uganda’s health financing landscape. Budget allocations to the sector have increased annually, moving towards program-based budgeting for efficiency. Results-based funding mechanisms have also been implemented.
Despite these efforts, challenges persist in Uganda’s health financing system, hindering progress towards UHC. Dr. Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, WHO Representative to Uganda, stressed the need to strengthen strategies for government resource allocation and sustainable donor support for essential health programs.
At the roundtable, three health financing knowledge products were launched, providing insights into Uganda’s health financing landscape. These products will inform future policy dialogues and reforms to advance universal health coverage in Uganda, according to Christabell Abewe, the Health Financing Officer at WHO Uganda.
This information was distributed by APO Group on behalf of the World Health Organization – Uganda.