Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 09/2014

Responding to Health Challenges: The Role of Domestic Resource Mobilization

Alan Whiteside, Samantha Bradshaw

August 2014

Centre for International Governance Innovation

Abstract

At least US$87 billion is needed to support the prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria in low- and middle-income African countries between 2014 and 2016. Much of the financing for these diseases previously came from international sources; however, implementing countries are progressively graduating from international support as their economies grow. The authors of the brief, Alan Whiteside and Samantha Bradshaw, explain that in order to reach the US$87 billion target, national governments need to mobilize more domestic resources and increase spending on health. They recommend that health ministers in Africa work with international donors, development partners and their own respective national governments to mobilize domestic resources and advocate health spending in the context of shared responsibility and individualized needs.