investing in maternal, newborn and child health - the case
TRANSCRIPT
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