Roundtable: Innovative financing in primary healthcare in India
Channel: Sankalp Forum
Date: 2022-11-16

The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic finally proved to be a decisive reminder of India’s crumbling health infrastructure and the need to overhaul it. The government responded with a two-phased emergency response and health systems preparedness packages. The packages speak about creating a network of well-equipped health facilities at all levels of healthcare with steps to avert resource and supply shortages across the system. In recent times, many stakeholders have sought to create a mechanism to blend multiple financing options to ensure sustainable outcomes. Innovative financing like malaria elimination bonds, vaccine purchases for COVID has achieved some great outcomes for improving accessibility and supporting LMIC health systems in achieving specific aims. In this session, domain experts from across the health system will discuss specific challenges that exist in mainstreaming innovative financing for PHC in India, and will provide their insights on what steps need to be taken to make IF in PHC more sustainable, widespread and acceptable to all stakeholders.