In line with its global strategy for health, nutrition, and population, the World Bank Group provides financing, state-of-the-art analysis, and policy advice to help countries expand access to quality, affordable health care; protects people from falling into poverty or worsening poverty due to illness; and promotes investments in all sectors that form the foundation of healthy societies.
Universal health coverage: In promoting universal health coverage (UHC) in particular, the Bank Group supports developing countries’ efforts to provide quality, affordable health care to everyone—regardless of their ability to pay—reducing financial risks associated with ill health, and increasing equity. The path to UHC is specific to each country. Whatever the path, the Bank Group’s aim is to help countries build healthier, more equitable societies, as well as to improve fiscal performance and country competitiveness—toward the goals of ending extreme poverty by 2030 and boosting shared prosperity.
In May 2014, the Bank Group and the World Health Organization (WHO) released a joint framework for monitoring progress toward UHC, with two goals : 1) Financial protection: By 2030, no one is pushed into or kept in poverty by paying for health care; and 2) Service delivery: By 2030, everyone has access to essential health services.
Results-based financing for health: One of the key approaches to implement the Bank Group’s overall health strategy is results-based financing (RBF), an innovative approach to expand the quality and reach of health care services in the poorest countries by linking financing to results. RBF focuses on paying for outputs and outcomes—for example, increasing the percentage of women receiving antenatal care or having a trained health worker deliver their baby—rather than for simply inputs or processes.
Global Financing Facility: In September 2014, the World Bank Group and governments of Canada, Norway, and the United States announced that they would jumpstart the creation of an innovative Global Financing Facility in support of Every Woman Every Child to mobilize support for developing countries’ plans to advance women’s and children’s health. A unique aspect of the facility is to support countries in their transition to long-term sustainable domestic financing as they grow from low- to middle-income economies. It will also support countries to expand Civil Registration and Vital Statistics efforts toward universal registration of every pregnancy, every birth, and every death by 2030.
Ebola response: In mid-2014, the Bank Group accelerated its emergency response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa. The response aims to help contain the spread of infections, assist countries in coping with the economic impact, and improve public health systems throughout West Africa. The Bank Group supports country responses in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) Roadmap, and coordinates assistance closely with the United Nations (UN) and other international and country partners.
In line with its commitment to reaching the MDGs by 2015, the Bank Group also focuses on preventing HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases, and scaling up support for early childhood nutrition. The Bank Group’s investments in nutrition and food security more than tripled between 2011-12 and 2013-14, rising from $260 million to $750 million.
Increasing effectiveness of global health aid is also a key aim. The Bank Group is a proud partner in the International Health Partnership and the H4+ and is scaling up civil society engagement in health.
Last Updated: Sep 30, 2014