YOU NEED YOU. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HEALTH FINANCING.
By LUIS MANUEL ENCARNACIÓN CRUZ
Do you want more money for your health system? I do. Do you want a better use of that money? I do too. Do you know how to get that money and how to best use it? I’m not sure all of us do, but neither do politicians (at least not always). Then, the question is how we manage to strengthen the provision of health services when financing is sometimes a technical task (some even say ‘boring’), that can get so complex and farfetched that many decide to stay out of it.
Money is attractive, but not necessarily the means to get it, and neither the means to spend it wisely. Adequate levels and sources of financing are key for national and global noncommunicable disease (NCD) policies and to achieve the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but not all governments and global stakeholders see health as a priority for development and well-being. However, it is necessary that all sectors discuss and come up with innovative solutions to tackle worldwide reductions and underfunding of NCDs if we aim to reduce the social and economic burdens of these diseases.
In my experience working with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Mexico and in Latin America, financing is commonly thought ofas the amount of money we put into the health system, understood as more you put into it, the better the outcomes. However, more money does not necessarily mean better results or better health for the people, so we must think of a balance between the amount of resources we put into the system and their efficient use. But you may think, how do we decide how much money our health systems really need? and what are the best ways to address our country’s health needs with our limited resources?
CSOs and youth (yes, you and I) have a great role in influencing health policy making and advocate for better financing approaches. We can create awareness on health and try to place it at the center of the policy agenda, through a ‘Health in all policies’ and a life-course approach starting when you’re a cute little baby and until you become a cool old-fella. We can also advocate to stop cutting back on health and examine the needs of our health systems, and even help design and implement the best and cost-effective policies to achieve better health outcomes for all.
Innovation in health financing can come from anyone and everywhere. If any penny counts, then any idea counts as well. Get involved, discuss and share your ideas. Engage your friends, family, community and country. A healthy life is everyone’s right, and we all must get involved if we want that happy and healthy life.
Originally published at medium.com on April 6, 2018.
