The Caribbean Health Financing Forum was held to discuss the progress of health financing reforms; improving financial protection for universal health coverage; and strategies for mobilizing, pooling and allocating resources for universal health financing.
The Caribbean Health Financing Forum was held with the participation of key stakeholders at the sub-regional level. The PAHO Deputy Director stressed the need to establish comprehensive health financing strategies. In the case of the Caribbean, he emphasized that there are challenges in guaranteeing sustainable financing. These include dependence on global tourism revenues, the impact of external economic shocks and the effect of natural disasters caused by climate change.
Public spending on health in the region is 3.6% of the Gross Domestic Product and out-of-pocket expenses represent 31% of current health spending. In other words, households continue to face high out-of-pocket expenses that lead to catastrophic health expenditures and impoverishment.
The PAHO Deputy Director referred to the need to produce and analyze information that allows countries to identify those who face financial barriers to access health services and the determinants of out-of-pocket spending. He reiterated the commitment of PAHO, the World Bank and the IDB to provide support for the implementation of national strategies to advance health financing policies within the framework of universal health.
