Sustainable Resource Mobilisation to Strengthen Global Healthcare Interventions

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines strategies for sustainable resource mobilisation to strengthen global healthcare systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It argues for a shift from disease-specific 'vertical' funding to a 'whole systems approach' that addresses the triple burden of non-communicable diseases, existing infections, and pandemic response gaps. The document emphasizes the importance of domestic resource mobilisation (DRM), the need for equitable vaccine distribution through the ACT-Accelerator and COVAX, and the potential for LMICs to leverage lessons from the AIDS epidemic to challenge intellectual property barriers via TRIPS waivers.

• Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are currently facing a "triple burden" consisting of pre-existing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), ongoing infection responses (such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis), and a financing gap for the COVID-19 pandemic response.
• The document warns against "zero-sum shifts" in resource allocation, where funding is diverted from other health priorities to achieve short-term COVID-19 "quick wins." It advocates for a "whole systems approach" that exploits synergies in co-morbidities to maximize benefits across multiple diseases.
• Domestic resource mobilisation (DRM) is identified as the optimal path for sustainable healthcare financing. Recommended strategies for LMICs include improving spending efficiency through "best buys," implementing tax reforms (such as hypothecated taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary beverages), and combating illicit financial flows.
• The briefing highlights the need for a temporary waiver of certain provisions under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) to reduce the cost of COVID-19 medical technologies and facilitate local manufacturing in LMICs, drawing parallels to the South African government's 1997 Medicines Act during the AIDS epidemic.
• The G20, under Italy's presidency, is urged to mobilise funds to address an estimated $28 billion funding gap for the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator and the COVAX facility. Additionally, the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) should be aligned with the estimated 12-month timeframe for large-scale vaccine availability post-approval.
• The document notes significant structural weaknesses in African healthcare infrastructure, citing that 41 African countries had fewer than 2,000 ventilators combined and 43 countries had only five intensive care beds per million people.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2020). Sustainable Resource Mobilisation to Strengthen Global Healthcare Interventions. https://saiia.org.za/research/sustainable-resource-mobilisation-to-strengthen-global-healthcare-interventions/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Sustainable Resource Mobilisation to Strengthen Global Healthcare Interventions. 2020. https://saiia.org.za/research/sustainable-resource-mobilisation-to-strengthen-global-healthcare-interventions/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Sustainable Resource Mobilisation to Strengthen Global Healthcare Interventions |date=18 December 2020 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/sustainable-resource-mobilisation-to-strengthen-global-healthcare-interventions/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2020sustainable, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Sustainable Resource Mobilisation to Strengthen Global Healthcare Interventions}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2020}, month = dec, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/sustainable-resource-mobilisation-to-strengthen-global-healthcare-interventions/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }