Richest 1% people have enough new wealth to end annual poverty 22 times over

Recent funding cuts on health, gender equality and human rights have given a sudden blow to a range of important services for the most underserved communities. But solution is not as simple as suggesting low- and middle-income countries to increase ‘domestic investment on health and gender’ or find ‘innovative ways to financing.’

SDGs warrant breakthroughs not breakdowns in development financing

[हिंदी] Decisions of US President Trump have precipitated a funding crisis in  many low- and middle-income countries for health and development programmes, including lifesaving medicines and disease prevention and surveillance initiatives. But development financing was not in a good spot even before Trump’s election as US President for another term.

Thai key population-led organisations give hope for sustainable HIV financing

published in NAM aidsmap on 23 August 2023

When international HIV funding decreased, Thai organisations found new domestic funding and developed social enterprises

Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant

published in NAM aidsmap on 23 August 2023

New global plan launched to #endTB in next 101 months

Despite the promise by all countries to end TB by 2030 (and India to end TB by 2025), decline in TB rates and deaths is not steep enough to meet the target. Lot more action (and investment) needs to urgently happen if we are to #endTB in the next 101 months globally (and next 41 months in India). That is why, the global Stop TB Partnership has unveiled a new costed plan for the world to end TB, the second leading cause of death, after COVID-19, from a single infectious-disease agent.

[video] Ever heard of funding gap for war or religion? Why funding gap is always there for SDGs?

Innovative financing for women's health becomes vital when purse strings tighten

S H O B H A   S H U K L A  -  C N S

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of weak health systems that were ill prepared to withstand the onslaught of the pandemic. As documented by the Pulse survey of the WHO, the pandemic has resulted in disruption of essential health services, including sexual and reproductive health services, in most countries. Weak and perpetually poorly-resourced health systems have escalated the woes of the public, more so in low- and lower-middle income countries. This disaster has reinforced the need for countries to not only increase their public health spending, but also explore innovative ways of financing healthcare systems.

[podcast] Innovative financing for sexual and reproductive health and rights in Asia Pacific

This Podcast features the 6th #APCRSHR10 Virtual session on the theme of "Innovative financing for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in Asia and the Pacific"

Be welcome to listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[video] Innovative financing for sexual and reproductive health and rights in Asia Pacific

APCRSHR10 Virtual Abstract Presentation of Dr Moazzam Ali

APCRSHR10 Virtual Abstract Presentation of Dr Moazzam Ali

APCRSHR10 Virtual Abstract Presentation of Prof Angela Dawson: Launch of the Asia Pacific Consortium for Emergency Contraception (APCEC)

APCRSHR10 Virtual Abstract Presentation of Prof Angela Dawson (Launch of the Asia Pacific Consortium for Emergency Contraception (APCEC))

APCRSHR10 Virtual Plenary presentation of Quazi AKM Mohiul Islam: COVID-19 and SRHR issues in Bangladesh

APCRSHR10 Virtual Plenary presentation of Mr Quazi AKM Mohiul Islam (COVID-19 and SRHR issues in Bangladesh)

APCRSHR10 Virtual Abstract Presentation by Loida Almendares of Philippines

APCRSHR10 Virtual Abstract Presentation by Loida Almendares of Philippines

#APCRSHR10 Virtual Abstract Presentation of Zahra Fathi Geshnigani

APCRSHR10 Virtual Abstract Presentation of Zahra Fathi Geshnigani

#APCRSHR10 Virtual-6: Innovative financing for SRHR in Asia Pacific

watch the recording | listen to podcast

Public services are essential to COVID-19 response and for fairer and equitable world

S H O B H A   S H U K L A  -  C N S

The United Nations marked this year's Public Service Day online celebrations by honouring the women and men who are risking their lives and health to deliver essential public services amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. UN bestowed the UN Public Service Award to seven public institutions from Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, Republic of Korea, and Spain. Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs said, "This pandemic has taught us an important lesson about the critical role of public sector institutions in serving the people, whether through provision of health care, education, social welfare, sanitation, or other services, that keep our societies running."

Why are strong public services essential for social, economic and health security for all?

S H O B H A   S H U K L A  -  C N S

[हिंदी] The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated, more than ever, the overwhelming importance of public services and the devastating consequences of under-funding and privatising them. That is why the writing on the wall on this year's United Nations Public Service Day is clear: commit to COVID-19 recovery plans that will deliver a new era of public services for all.

Stronger universal public health services, not privatization, will deliver #HealthForAll

Shobha Shukla  |  Bobby Ramakant

When the world has come to a grinding halt due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and it is majorly the public health services that are on the frontline of the efforts to contain it (with most of the private health industry 'safe distancing' by being shut or busy profit-minting), the writing is crystal clear on the wall: only stronger universal public health could be our saviour.

India Health Fund provides platform for domestic financing and innovation to combat TB and malaria

Shobha Shukla and Bobby Ramakant
(First published in Aidspan on March 19, 2019)

The collaborative initiative, seeded by Tata Trusts, comes to the co-financing table

With an acute need to increase health budgets, innovative financing, especially mobilized within nations, is increasingly in the spotlight. At the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria’s 39th Board Meeting in May last year, the Fund stated that given the changing financing landscape and existing financial and programmatic gaps, the Fund should leverage opportunities to use innovative finance to increase funding flows for itself and other actors, as well as to increase the efficiency of its investments and national programs.

It's Time to bend the curve sharply to #endTB

First published in The Bangkok Post (editorial page), Thailand

[हिंदी] Although governments of 193 countries had promised way back in 2015 to end tuberculosis (TB) by 2030, the global annual rate of TB decline since then has been much less than what is required.

Fully funding the TB response is a smart investment

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)

Watch video interview on CNS Live | Listen to podcast 

 

As per WHO’s Global TB Report 2018 financing for TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment continues to fall short of the amount needed and commitments from both domestic and international donor sources need to be stepped up.