Achieving Universal Healthcare Coverage in Ethiopia Through a Healthcare Financing Lens

Authors

  • T. Oluwaseyi Ishola Western University
  • Margarita Amoranto Western University
  • Jordan Gunter Western University
  • Jennifer Heng Western University
  • Sajee Maheswaran Western University
  • Sophie Martin Western University
  • Uche Ikenyei Western University

Abstract

Since the mid-1970s, Ethiopia has been working towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC) to provide access to high-quality and necessary medical services to its citizens without incurring huge financial burdens on their households. However, questions concerning how financially feasible implementing UHC would be if poverty and health disparities persist throughout the country. This paper focuses on the need for health systems thinking, specifically centring on healthcare financing to improve Ethiopia’s delivery of equitable health care services. A systematic review was carried out in which literature revealed that more financing is necessary to achieve UHC in the country.

Additionally, adopting a UHC financing model will address the current inequitable distribution of public spending on health which has the potential to increase the resilience of the healthcare system while improving access to health care and essential medicines. Currently, multiple factors contribute to Ethiopia’s low UHC, further exacerbating health inequities already caused by poverty and infectious disease. Therefore, investment in health service financing must be scaled-up for UHC to be achieved. UHC financing will allow for transparent, equitable, and efficient allocation of healthcare resources.

Author Biographies

T. Oluwaseyi Ishola, Western University

T. Oluwaseyi Ishola is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Geography and Environment Department, collaborative specialization in Global Health Systems at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, at Western University in London, Ontario. She received an MSc in African Studies from the University of Oxford. 

Margarita Amoranto, Western University

Margarita Amoranto is a Masters of Management of Applied Science in Global Health Systems candidate at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University in London, Ontario. She also completed her BSc (Honours) in Biology from Queen’s University.

Jordan Gunter, Western University

Jordan Gunter is a candidate for the Masters of Management of Applied science in Global Health Systems at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University in London Ontario. She also completed her BHSc (Honours) in Health Sciences from Western University.

Jennifer Heng, Western University

Jennifer Heng is a Masters of Management of Applied Science in Global Health Systems candidate at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University in London, Ontario. She also completed her BSc (Honours) in Life Sciences from the University of Toronto. 

Sajee Maheswaran, Western University

Sajee Maheswaran is a Masters of Management of Applied Science in Global Health Systems candidate at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University in London, Ontario. She also completed her BSc (Honours) in Life Sciences from the University of Toronto. 

Sophie Martin, Western University

Sophie Martin is a candidate for the Masters of Management of Applied science in Global Health Systems at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University in London Ontario. Sophie previously completed an Honours Specialization in Health Sciences from Western University.

Downloads

Published

2022-10-25

How to Cite

Ishola, T. O., Amoranto, M. ., Gunter, J., Heng, J., Maheswaran, S., Martin, S., & Ikenyei, U. (2022). Achieving Universal Healthcare Coverage in Ethiopia Through a Healthcare Financing Lens. Global Health: Annual Review, 1(7). Retrieved from https://journals.mcmaster.ca/ghar/article/view/3031