Global francophone course on health financing for UHC

Overview

Objectives and course content

The World Health Organization organised a global francophone course on “Health financing for universal coverage for low- and middle-income countries”. This week-long training offered a unique opportunity for selected participants to strengthen their capacities while sharing their experiences on best practices in health financing.

The course was structured around the key elements of health financing policy and their role in improving health system performance for UHC, as follows:

• Health financing and public finance management – enabling implementation
• Pooling health revenues – the cost of fragmentation
• Purchasing – more health for money through payment reforms
• Coordinating reform – aligning policy instruments with policy objectives

Date and location

The course took place in Geneva from 17th to 21st June 2019, at the biotech campus of the University of Geneva (Switzerland).

Target audience

This course focussed on policy and strategic decision-making, rather than implementation, and was specifically designed for policy makers, advisors and analysts in the health and social sectors; senior managers of service provider organizations and health insurance funds; other relevant actors in government (e.g. finance ministries, Parliamentarians); the private sector; and civil society.

While it was open to all interested partied, this was an advanced course and participants were expected to have extensive and relevant work experience and knowledge of health financing policy, and previous training in health systems and policy (e.g. participation in a Flagship Course).

Application - Selection - Registration

An open application process was followed for which interested candidates were expected to complete and submit the online application form online before 20 March 2019.

A Course Selection Committee selected participants based on several criteria including the relevance of the applicant’s current position and work functions, evidence of previous training on health policy and/or systems strengthening, and language ability. Teams from the same country representing different policy perspectives (e.g. health and finance) were strongly encouraged to apply. Space on the course was limited to ensure the effectiveness of the training and hence not all applicants were guaranteed a place.

Selected candidates were notified by email and are expected to confirm their attendance by 20 April 2019.

While there was no tuition fee to attend the course, participants covered the cost of travel, accommodation and subsistence. They were also responsible for organising and funding their own visa and associated processes. WHO covered all other costs related to the organization of the training course, which includes course materials, coffee breaks and lunches on each of the five days of the course, plus an evening dinner reception.