SADC PF committee calls for urgent health financing

19 September 2024

Chairperson of the HSDSP Committee, Honourable Mope Khati from Lesotho. Photo: Moses Magadza

Share this story

By Moses Magadza in Johannesburg, South Africa

A statutory meeting of the Standing Committee on Human and Social Development and Special Programmes (HSDSP) of the SADC Parliamentary Forum began on 19 September 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa, amid urgent calls for sustainable health financing across the SADC region.

Member of Parliament Honourable Mope Khati from Lesotho chairs the committee. He officially opened the hybrid meeting, with some Members of Parliament including those from Angola, Zambia and Seychelles participating virtually.

Hon Khati noted that the meeting was being held during a particularly busy political period, with three SADC member states scheduled to hold elections within the next three months.

 “Your esteemed participation is thus highly valued as we work to make progress on the human and social development landscape of the SADC region,” he told the delegates who included MPs from 11 SADC states.

The meeting is also happening ahead of the 56th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC PF that will take place in December in Zambia.

 “The deliberations during this meeting will centre around ‘The Role of Parliaments in Raising, Allocating and Spending Resources necessary for Public Health and SRHR Financing,’” he said.

The chairperson expressed concern over yawning gaps in public health systems in different parts of the region and challenged the region’s lawmakers to make a difference.

“Everywhere we go across the SADC region, there are enduring gaps in public health systems,” he remarked, and cited obsolete facilities, underfunded healthcare services, and a critical shortage of medical professionals among pressing challenges.

He noted, “The number of hospital beds in public hospitals is below the European average, and there is a general lack of nurses and healthcare practitioners.”

He challenged governments in the SADC region to rethink their priorities within the context of health financing.

“Governments are quick to borrow to build roads and purchase aeroplanes, but money is seldom borrowed to invest in public health. This reflects a mindset and priority of those in power,” he said.

He warned that failing health systems would jinx socioeconomic development.

 “The poor will not vanquish poverty, and those with middle-class incomes will continue to impoverish themselves for private healthcare,” he cautioned, adding that the wealthy would still seek better health options abroad.

“We all stand to lose if we do not convince our Executives to continue investing in health financing,” he cautioned.

He exhorted MPs to use their oversight role to ensure adequate health resource allocation.

“As Parliament, we must accentuate our oversight role and press where needed to finally make a difference,” he stated.

Discussions during the two-day meeting will revolve on the role of parliaments in raising, allocating, and spending resources necessary for public health and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) financing.

The meeting takes place, also, when some SADC countries are experiencing hyperinflation, health hazards, climate-related disruptions, shrinking consumer spending, and stagnating revenue sources.

Members of the Standing Committee on Human and Social Development and Special Programmes (HSDSP) of the SADC Parliamentary Forum pose for a souvenir photograph in Johannesburg, South Africa on Thursday. Photo: Moses Magadza.

Against this backdrop, calls for parliamentary oversight in public health financing are becoming more strident. The SADC PF, which is convening the meeting, says World Economic Forum’s early 2024 insight report highlights a significant health financing divide between men and women, with findings indicating that women are disproportionately affected, spending an average of nine years of their lives in poor health. Closing this gap requires an estimated $1 trillion investment.

Considering these challenges, the HSDSP Committee, whose work is funded by Sweden under the SRHR, HIV and AIDS Governance Project, has set specific objectives under which delegates will work together to analyse prevailing health financing strategies.

They will also share insights from regional data and experiences, and develop a resolution aimed at strengthening public health financing, inclusive of SRHR initiatives, for submission to the 56th Plenary Assembly of the Forum.

Expectations are that delegates will deepen and widen their appreciation of existing gaps in health financing and SRHR service delivery and make recommendations for improving the legislative framework governing resource allocation and spending.

Galvanising political leaders to address health inequities is in tandem with Sustainable Development Goal 3, which emphasises good health and well-being for all.

The meeting continues Friday with experts from the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) providing insights through presentations.

SADC PF Secretary General, Ms Boemo Sekgoma, is participating virtually.

*Moses Magadza is the Media and Communications Manager at SADC PF.

Last Posts

Is the Woman a Slave at Home but Free as a Worker?

Share this story

Share this storyFeminism introduced the idea that women are free when they serve their employers but are slaves when they help their husbands. (This is a letter to the editor in Sydöstran. The opinions expressed…

19 September 2024

Author Phuti Seboni

“WRITING IMPACTED MY LIFE,” SAYS MR PHUTI SEBONI, SOUTH AFRICAN AUTHOR

Share this story

Share this storyCynthia Thanda In a small area called Senwabarana, there was a young man. The man was called Sello Paulosa Madisha. The guy was full of amazing talent. He used to sing at school,…

19 September 2024

Botswana-Russia diplomatic relations celebrate 55th Anniversary on March 6th 2025

Botswana, Russia diplomatic relations hit 55 years

Share this story

Share this storyPress release of the Russian Foreign Ministry on an exchange of greetings between Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Minister of International Relations of the Republic of Botswana Phenyo Butale on the 55th anniversary…

19 September 2024

Chinese Ambassador to Botswana Fan Yong flanked by Botswana's Foreign Minister Dr Phenyo Butale and Russian Ambassador, H.E Andrey Kemarskiy

China and Botswana sign Agreement on economic & Technical Cooperation

Share this story

Share this storyChinese Ambassador to Botswana Fan Yong Signed the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Two Governments with Vice President and Minister of Finance of Botswana, Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe. On February 27,…

19 September 2024

Dr Margaret Nasha

Dr Margaret Nasha remains an inspiration

Share this story

Share this storyBy Donald Molosi  In the 1990s, Dr Margaret Nasha’s ascent to prominence in a predominantly male-dominated political arena serves as a beacon of hope for women across Africa. Her tenure as the first…

19 September 2024

Russian-US consultations in Istanbul, Moscow offers to restore air link with Washington

Share this story

Share this storyOn February 27, 2025 expert-level Russian-US consultations between Director of the Foreign Ministry Department of North Atlantic (former Department of North America) Alexander Darchiev and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter convened…

19 September 2024

Related Stories