The Health Financing Strategy 2019-2023 serves to guide the Afghanistan health sector to strategically address major financing gaps to become more responsive to the health needs of the population.
The Afghanistan Health Financing Strategy (AHFS) 2019-2023 was designed as a comprehensive framework to enhance healthcare financing in Afghanistan over a five-year period. The strategy is centered around improving financial sustainability, equity, and efficiency within the healthcare system to ensure that all Afghans have access to quality healthcare services.
One of the core objectives of the AHFS is to increase the resources available for health, both from domestic and external sources. This involves improving the efficiency of tax revenue collection, exploring innovative financing mechanisms such as health-related taxes or levies, and optimizing the use of international aid. Simultaneously, the strategy emphasizes the need to expand health insurance coverage and social protection schemes to reduce the economic burden on individuals, particularly the poor and vulnerable. This dual approach aims to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent people from accessing necessary healthcare services.
In terms of enhancing efficiency, the strategy focuses on better management of healthcare resources. This includes strengthening the capacities in budget planning and financial management within the health sector, alongside implementing robust monitoring mechanisms to ensure that funds are spent appropriately and transparently. Additionally, the AHFS seeks to improve the quality of healthcare services across Afghanistan. This goal is to be achieved by investing in healthcare infrastructure, improving the skill sets of healthcare workers, and raising the standards of healthcare delivery, which in turn should enhance patient satisfaction and health outcomes.
The strategy also highlights the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in expanding healthcare coverage and enhancing service delivery efficiency. By collaborating with private sector providers, the strategy aims to leverage private sector efficiencies and capabilities to supplement public health efforts.