Speaking at the side event onChanging the Conversation on Development Finance for Health, WHO Director Genearl Dr Margaret Chan, underscored the need to change the conversation in accordance with the changing global social, demographic and financial landscape. 

The conversation focused on the vision and future of development finance for health in the backdrop of increasingly constrained finances. Whereas the Millennium Development Goals was about rich countries helping poor countries towards these goals, the Sustainable Development Goals apply to all - 193 - countries of the world with a bid to ensure that no one is left behind.  Dr Chan noted that while all agree that money is needed to make this possible, money is tight, and when money is tight in the home front, development money will be difficult to come by. "The good news is," said Dr Chan, "All development partners understand that they need healthy human capital for development. All agree that where there is no health, there is no prosperity."

It was emphasized that international public financing is needed to complement local health investment if universal health coverage is to be achieved. Ministries of Health were also urged to work with Ministries of Finance to convince the latter of efficient use of money for health development. Noting that creating jobs for young people is one such efficient use, Dr Chan commended the Government of Ethiopia for creating jobs for 30 thousand young Ethiopians through its Health Extension Program.

Dr Chan advised that countries need to engage in innovative ways of raising health revenues in as much as their cultural and local situation permits.  Such innovative financing approaches could include heavy tax on tobacco and on sweet drinks, among others. 

The President of Benin His Excellency Mr Boni Yayi, Advisor to the Minister of Public Health of Thailand Dr Suwit Wibulpolpraset, and Minister of Health of Barbados Mr John Boyce, also spoke at the event, sharing their country experiences and thanking WHO for its guidance and technical support.  H.E. Mr Boni Yayi specifically thanked WHO in improving the health of his nation and of the African people.  

In closing, Dr Chan noted that the Sustainable Development Goals are the best equalizers and pledged WHO's support to ensure that no-one is left behind in the health development agenda.

Photos: WHO Ethiopia/ Loza Mesfin