UHC means that all people receive the health services they need while ensuring that the use of these services does not expose them to financial hardship (WHO, 2015 SDG)]. Equity is therefore inherent in the pursuit of UHC. However, in the African context, vulnerable populations have difficulty accessing health care. Moreover, many low-income countries remain dependent on international aid for financing UHC. Yet to date, few African states have met the Abuja Declaration’s target of allocating 15 percent of public investment to the health sector.
This session will address issues such as equity in financing for UHC at the international and global levels, financing opportunities for countries, the pitfalls of equity in financing for UHC, but also equity in access to care especially for vulnerable populations.
Chairs
- Mr. Ibrahima Cheikh DIONG, UN Under-Secretary General, Director General of The African Risk Capacity (ARC)
- Dr. Prosper TUMUSIIME, Former Director, Universal Health Coverage – Life Cycle at WHO AFRO (Uganda)
Keynote
- Dr. Matshidiso MOETI, Regional Director, WHO Regional Office for Africa
Panelists
- Mrs. Zainab AHMED, Federal Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning of Nigeria (to be confirmed)
- Ms. Aïssatou CISSE, Minister Advisor to the President of the Republic (Senegal)
- Prof. Cato T. LAURENCIN, Professor at the University of Connecticut, Executive Director of the Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering (USA)
- Dr Denis BROUN, Director of Empower Switzerland