School of medicine

HMS /B/01-00226/2020

Naomi Nyanchera

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

Health Service Management

MPH

Assignment 1)How SDGs influence formation of health policies

2)Role of government funding in promoting universal healthcare

SDGs on health policies

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals

established by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development. They aim to address a wide range of global
challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental
degradation, peace, and justice. The SDGs are designed to be a blueprint for
achieving a better and more sustainable future for all. There are seventeen
SDGs of which the third SDG is focused more health rated issues. The
complete list of SDGs is as follows;

No Poverty; Aims to end poverty in all its forms everywhere.

Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and
promote sustainable agriculture.

Good Health and Well-being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for
all at all ages.

Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and

promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Gender Equality: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

Clean Water and Sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management

of water and sanitation for all.

Affordable and Clean Energy: Ensure access to affordable, reliable,

sustainable, and modern energy for all.
Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promote sustained, inclusive, and
sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent
work for all.

Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure,

promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.

Reduced Inequality: Reduce inequality within and among countries.

Sustainable Cities and Communities: Make cities and human settlements

inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Responsible Consumption and Production: Ensure sustainable consumption

and production patterns.

Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Life Below Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and
marine resources for sustainable development.

Life on Land: Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial

ecosystems, manage forests sustainably, combat desertification, halt and
reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss.

Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: Promote peaceful and inclusive

societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable,
and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Partnerships for the Goals: Strengthen the means of implementation and

revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

These goals are interconnected, and achieving one often involves addressing
issues related to others. The aim is to achieve these targets by 2030,
creating a sustainable future for people and the planet.

As the SDGs are recognized international they also aim to foster a good
relationship among different countries as they work together to achieve
these common set goals. Despite the fact that sdg 3 is the one that focuses
on health, other SDGs also play a role in health as they contain items which
are also determinants of health for example SDG one that aims to end
hunger also can influence formation of health policies. This is largely because
hunger affects many people in different parts of the world as is one of the
causes of malnutrition a major health issue. Access to clean water and
sanitation as spelt out by SDG 5 also relates with health and may play a big
role on how policies are formed around access to clean water and sanitation.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) play a significant role in shaping
health policies worldwide by providing a comprehensive framework for global
health, they guide governments, organizations, and institutions in
formulating strategies and policies aimed at improving health outcomes.

A rounded approach to Health (SDG 3).SDG 3 focuses on “Good Health and

Well-being,” aiming to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at
all ages. It includes specific targets like reducing maternal and child
mortality, combating infectious diseases, promoting mental health, and
ensuring universal health coverage. Health policies influenced by SDG 3 are
designed to be more inclusive, addressing not only immediate health
concerns but also the broader social determinants of health, such as
nutrition, clean water, sanitation, and gender equality.

Health is closely linked to other SDGs, such as SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2
(Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 5 (Gender Equality),
and SDG 13 (Climate Action). These interconnections mean that health
policies are developed in a way that integrates solutions across various
sectors.This integrated approach helps in addressing the root causes of
health issues, such as poverty, inequality, lack of education, and
environmental degradation, which are often outside the traditional scope of
health policies.

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is one of the key target of SDG 3 ,which
means that all individuals and communities receive the health services they
need without suffering financial hardship.This focus has led to the
development of policies that aim to make healthcare services more
accessible, affordable, and equitable, especially for marginalized and
vulnerable populations.

The SDGs emphasize the importance of data and measurable indicators to

track progress towards each goal. This has influenced health policies to be
more evidence-based, using data to identify gaps, set priorities, allocate
resources, and evaluate the impact of interventions. Improved data
collection and analysis help policymakers understand health trends, target
interventions more effectively, and ensure that no one is left behind.

The SDGs promote a collaborative approach involving multiple sectors and

stakeholders, such as governments, non-governmental organizations, the
private sector, and civil society.Health policies are increasingly designed to
engage these various stakeholders, recognizing that health outcomes
depend on factors like economic development, education, gender equality,
and environmental sustainability.

SDGs focus on Equity and Social Justice and emphasis on reducing

inequalities (SDG 10) and promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions
(SDG 16) has led to the development of health policies that prioritize
vulnerable and marginalized groups.Health policies are more focused on
eliminating disparities in health access and outcomes based on
socioeconomic status, gender, geography, and other social determinants.

SDG 13 (Climate Action) and other environment-focused goals have raised

awareness about the impact of climate change and environmental
degradation on public health.Policies now often include strategies to mitigate
health risks associated with climate change, pollution, and loss of
biodiversity, emphasizing the need for sustainable and resilient health
systems.

To promote Preventive Healthcare SDGs have shifted the focus from reactive
healthcare to preventive measures, emphasizing early detection,
vaccination, education, and awareness to reduce the burden of diseases.This
approach in health policy-making aims to prevent health issues before they
become significant problems, reducing the overall healthcare costs and
improving population health.

Role of the government funding in achieving universal healthcare in

developing countries

Universal healthcare is a health care system in which all individuals have

access to medical services without financial hardship, regardless of their
income, employment status, or other factors. This system aims to provide
comprehensive health coverage to everyone, ensuring that medical services
are available to all citizens or residents.
Key principles of universal healthcare include the following

Accessibility: Everyone should have access to health services when needed,

without facing financial or other barriers.

Equity: Health services should be provided fairly, without discrimination

based on socioeconomic status, gender, ethnicity, or geographic location.

Quality: The healthcare services available should be of high quality, ensuring

that patients receive appropriate and effective treatment.

Affordability: Healthcare costs should not burden individuals or families,

meaning services should be either free at the point of use or involve minimal
cost-sharing.

Universal healthcare can be implemented in various ways, with countries

adopting different models. Some of the most common models include:Single-
payer system: A single public or quasi-public agency manages healthcare
funding, while care is delivered by private or public providers. Countries like
Canada and the United Kingdom use this model.

Social health insurance: Health insurance is funded by employers,

employees, and the government, with the funds used to cover healthcare
services. Examples include Germany and Japan.National health insurance: A
single government insurance program provides health insurance to all
citizens, but healthcare delivery is mainly by private providers. Examples
include Taiwan and South Korea.Mixed systems: Some countries, like the
United States, have a mixed system, with both private and public insurance
options. While the U.S. does not have universal healthcare, programs like
Medicare and Medicaid aim to cover specific groups.

The goal of universal healthcare is to improve population health, reduce

health disparities, and ensure that everyone has access to necessary
medical care regardless of their ability to pay. Countries with universal
healthcare systems typically have better health outcomes and lower
healthcare costs compared to those without such policies.

Government funding plays a critical role in achieving universal healthcare in

developing countries by providing the necessary financial resources,
infrastructure, and policy support to ensure that all citizens have access to
essential health services. Some of the ways Gove funding is crucial for UHC
is as follows .
 Adequate government funding helps allocate resources to essential health
services, such as primary care, maternal and child health, immunization
programs, and preventive care. It ensures that healthcare services are
accessible to all segments of the population, regardless of their income level.
Resources allocation ranges from employing trained health workers and
making sure they are well paid , availing adequate and standard equipment
to be used for patient management.

Infrastructure Development: Government funding is essential for building

and maintaining healthcare infrastructure, including hospitals, clinics, and
medical equipment. In many developing countries, the lack of proper
healthcare facilities is a significant barrier to achieving universal healthcare,
and government investment is crucial to address this gap.

Developing and maintaining human resources . Developing countries often

face shortages of healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and
technicians. Government funding can be used to train and retain healthcare
workers, improve their working conditions, and ensure they are distributed
equitably across different regions and also well paid.

Subsidizing Healthcare costs as one of the major challenges in developing

countries is the high out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare, which can lead
to financial hardship for individuals and families. Government funding can be
used to subsidize healthcare costs, making it affordable for all citizens and
reducing the financial burden on low-income populations.

Providing Health Insurance Schemes. Many developing countries are moving

towards implementing public health insurance schemes to achieve universal
healthcare. Government funding is vital for the sustainability of these
schemes, allowing for risk pooling and providing coverage to vulnerable
populations who cannot afford private health insurance.

In developing countries, there are often significant disparities in healthcare

access between urban and rural areas, as well as among different socio-
economic groups. Government funding can help bridge these gaps by
prioritizing investments in underserved areas and targeting marginalized
populations. Addressing these inequities is important to ensure access to
health facilities by all people.

Promoting Preventive and Primary Care. Preventive and primary healthcare

services are the most cost-effective ways to improve public health outcomes.
Government funding can support vaccination programs, health education,
disease prevention initiatives, and early detection of illnesses, reducing the
need for costly treatments later.

Many developing countries rely on external aid and donations for their
healthcare systems, which can be unpredictable and unsustainable.
Increasing domestic government funding for healthcare reduces dependence
on external sources and ensures more stable and long-term investments in
health.

Investments in healthcare by the government have a direct impact on

improving health outcomes, reducing mortality rates, increasing life
expectancy, and enhancing the quality of life for the population. Better
health outcomes also contribute to economic growth by creating a healthier
and more productive workforce. Universal healthcare is often seen as a
fundamental human right and a key component of social justice. Government
funding plays a critical role in ensuring that healthcare is treated as a public
good rather than a privilege, promoting equity and reducing health
disparities within society.

Achieving universal healthcare in developing countries requires a strong

political commitment from governments to allocate sufficient funding and
resources toward the health sector. While government funding alone may not
be enough to address all challenges, it forms the foundation upon which
partnerships with the private sector, international organizations, and civil
society can be built to ensure comprehensive and sustainable healthcare for
all.