Sustainable Health Financing for COVID‐19 Preparedness and Response in Asia and the Pacific

Kwon, Soonman; Kim, Eunkyoung

To make health systems more resilient to shocks and crises, it is critical for governments to invest in core health system functions such as financing, service delivery, and governance. Ensuring sufficient resources for health is necessary for basic infrastructure including vaccines; the overall level of health expenditure and the public sources of funding are important. Funding for public health services, including infection prevention and control, surveillance, and information systems, is fundamental to ensure health systems are prepared for and respond to health emergencies. Funding should be made available for a quick and effective response to emergencies, requiring a supportive flexible public financial management system. Moreover, it is essential to mitigate the potential risks of health system collapses through innovative ways, for example, telemedicine, and mobilizing private sector providers. Vulnerable groups who are even more impacted during crises need special attention. Multisectoral cooperation is paramount to health system resilience during pandemic response.