Analysis of health financing is essential for measuring countries’ progress toward universal health coverage and understanding whether their spending is aligned with their goals. Since 2020, health financing analysis has been used by Countdown country collaborations in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Liberia, Senegal, Malawi, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Members of Countdown’s Health Financing Data & Analysis Center, which is led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, presented key concepts in health financing analysis in January 2025 during two one-hour webinars. Below are links to watch the recordings. These concepts will be taught in-depth during in-person analysis workshops later this year; details about these will be announced soon.
Webinar 1 – Health Financing for Annual Reviews
Examples of finance-related research questions include:
- Tracking of resources – Where are the resources going? Where are they being spent? How is aid being spent?
- Equity analysis – Are resources reaching the most vulnerable?
- Evaluation – Are changes in financing improving access to care and affordability?
Primary data sources for health financing include:
- Creditor Reporting System (CRS) is the main data source for foreign aid. Since it includes all sectors, not just health, it can be challenging to identify reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition (RMNCAH+N) funding.
- Muskoka 2 estimates of global aid for RMNCH, a downloadable Excel spreadsheet that applies an algorithm to the CRS database.
- Muskoka 2 country dataset – a variation on the global dataset which allows more in-depth analysis at the country level.
- World Health Organization’s Global Health Expenditure dataset – although not complete for every country, it has information on RMNCAH+N indicators for 60 countries.
Webinar 2 – Country Level Analysis – Case Studies
The second of the two-part series showcased case studies from Tanzania and Senegal. It focused on translating health financing concepts into real-world country-level analysis, demonstrating how financing data can drive policy reforms and advocacy efforts.
In Tanzania, findings revealed a decline in government health spending, counterbalanced by rising out-of-pocket payments and insurance contributions. The study emphasized the need for strategic allocation of resources to ensure equitable access to healthcare, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Similarly, the case study from Senegal underscored the persistent challenge of high out-of-pocket expenditures, indicating financial burdens on households. The analysis also pointed to donor funding fluctuations, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly impacted maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services.
Addressing Challenges in Health Financing Analysis
One of the recurring themes in the discussion was the difficulty of accessing reliable subnational health financing data. Participants emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between researchers and government stakeholders to enhance data transparency and availability.
Upcoming Opportunities for Engagement
As part of its commitment to capacity strengthening, Countdown is organizing in-person workshops in Senegal and Tanzania in May and June 2025. These workshops will provide hands-on training for researchers and policymakers interested in conducting health financing analyses.
The webinar concluded with a call for continued engagement in health financing research, emphasizing its critical role in achieving universal health coverage. Participants were encouraged to reach out for technical support, engage in further discussions, and explore opportunities for collaboration.
Download the presentation slides:
More information is available on the Health Financing Data & Analysis Center webpage.