investing in maternal, newborn and child health - the case

Investing in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health -

The Case for Asia and the Pacific

Henrik Axelson

Health Economist, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

Grant Inception Meeting, Brisbane, April 2, 2009

Developed by the "Maternal, Newborn and

Child Health Network for Asia and the Pacific"

Objectives of Investment Case

Highlight the need to accelerate progress

Identify high-impact, cost-effective interventions

Mobilize additional resources (to what is already

being allocated and spent)

Target Audience

National policy makers

o Ministry of Finance

o Ministry of Health

o Members of Parliament

Regional organizations

International donor and technical agencies

Civil society

Media (launch event and beyond)

Why invest in maternal, newborn

and child health (MNCH)?

1. Women's and children's health is valuable in

itself and is a human right

2. There are proven and affordable means of

saving the lives of women and children

Why invest in maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH)?

3. Investing in MNCH also makes economic sense, particularly important during the current financial and economic crisis

4. Investing in MNCH has political benefits, including social stability and human security

5. Investing in MNCH benefits the health system

Why invest in maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH)?

Why Asia and the Pacific?

1. High share of global MNC burden of disease

2. Main reason: inadequate financing and

coverage of MNCH interventions

Why Asia and the Pacific?

Why is spending critical?

The 5 I's…

1. Inadequate spending

2. Inefficient spending

3. Inequitable spending

4. Incentiveless spending

5. Incomplete spending

and implementation

What to invest in?

How much will it cost?

1. Core Package

ADDITIONAL cost of core interventions –

per capita per year(to what is already being spent to sustain current coverage levels)

Average for South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan):

o US$ 1.21 for child health per capita per year

o US$ 1.76 for maternal/newborn health

o Total: US$ 2.97

Average for East Asia and Pacific (Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Timor Leste, Viet Nam)

o US$ 0.61 for child health per capita per year

o US$ 0.83 for maternal/newborn health

o Total: US$ 1.44

ADDITIONAL cost of core package – total for 15 countries

(to what is already being spent)

2. Expanded and Comprehensive Packages

Key Messages

Investing in MNCH is an investment in social justice,

social stability and economic growth

Unless significant additional resources are mobilized,

MDGs 4 and 5 will not be achieved

Additional investment of <US$ 3 per person per year (to

what is already being spent) can make a significant

contribution towards MDGs 4 and 5

To achieve MDGs 4 and 5, larger (~ US$ 10) and longer-

term investment is needed, particularly in the health

system

Next steps

Launch of Investment Case

o Annual General Meeting of ADB, Bali, May 2009

Further dissemination

o World Health Assembly, Geneva, May 2009

o World Bank / IMF Annual Meetings, Sept 2009

Develop country-specific investment cases in collaboration with national governments

How to link with this project?

Results will inform policy making and budgetallocations and expenditures

Thank you