We all know that developing countries are faced with numerous challenges that force them to prioritise the most pressing needs among others. While developed countries with good economy, continue to receive more allocations, thus putting the poor and developing at a dire spot. In fact, it is the developing countries that need the support more.
It would be recalled that in September 2019, at the first United Nations High-Level Meeting (UN HLM) on UHC, world leaders endorsed the most ambitious and comprehensive political declaration on health in history. However, according to the latest global monitoring report on universal health coverage, UHC progress is not on track, and the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the world further away from the 2023 targets set by the political declaration.
However, there is a need for more funding budgetary allocation at country’s offices, rather than concentrating the support at global and regional levels. This would not only make WHO more effective, but will also strengthen national response to health care needs.
We all know that healthcare is a part of life and an entitlement that everyone should have the right to have access whenever needed.
For many years health inequities continue to derail our collective ambition of providing decent and best treatment for people in the developing countries. Some believe these inequities have significant social and economic costs both to individuals and societies. However, there is an urgent need to address this lapse and ensure the country attains quality healthcare for the citizens.
In this vein, we call on the government to prioritise and invest more in health to help ensure the country attain Universal Health Coverage in the not-too-distant future. In meeting this ambitious goal, there is a need for all to play a part toward meeting this target. This reminds us of the importance of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in that regard. Off recent, PPP has proven to be the surest and sustainable way of achieving positive results especially in the health sector. Sometimes, government allocations in terms of finance in the sector are inadequate to respond to the emerging needs. But through PPP some of those lapses are easily addressed without going through many challenges as it is generally agreed that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.
Despite the tight budget allocation, The Gambia is doing absolutely well in meeting the Universal Health Coverage. So let all play a part in strengthening our country’s health delivery.