As the World Bank prepares for the 21st replenishment of its International Development Association (IDA) funds, Oxfam has raised critical concerns about the omission of financial protection measures in the proposed health policy package. Despite the Bank’s commitment to expanding healthcare access for 1.5 billion people by 2030, Oxfam’s recent article highlights the need to measure and address catastrophic health expenditures that push billions into poverty annually.
The Global UHC Monitoring Reports, co-authored by the World Bank and WHO, reveal that 4.5 billion people lack access to essential health services, and 2 billion face financial hardship due to healthcare costs. Oxfam stresses that the IDA21 policy must include explicit measures aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 3.8.2 to track impoverishing health spending and ensure financial accountability.
Oxfam’s recommendations call for publicly financed healthcare free at the point of use, equitable tax-based funding mechanisms, and concrete commitments to reduce out-of-pocket expenses. Without these safeguards, the Bank risks perpetuating inequities, particularly for marginalized groups.
Ahead of next month’s IDA21 conference in South Korea, Oxfam urges IDA donors to prioritize robust financial protection targets to make universal health coverage a reality for the world’s poorest populations.
