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.

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.