What is the financial cost of delivering comprehensive, efficient and equitable healthcare services to the peop of Jamaica now and into the future? What does sustainable financing of our health sector entail? What does Universal Health Coverage mean within the context of Jamaica? What, if any are the macroeconomic implications of financing universal health coverage?
This discussion paper seeks to stimulate broad public discussion on sustainable financing of the health sector as we strive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage. There has been previous discussions fixated on user fees, often interchanging revenue collection/raising with health financing. However, the much broader topic, health financing according to the World Health Organization is a policy that focuses on strengthening health system resilience, health security, and universal health coverage. In order to achieve these goals, a country must raise sufficient revenues, maximize risk-sharing across the entire population, spend government funds in ways that improve the health of all citizens of a country, and exercise prudent public financial management.