Rethinking how development assistance for health can catalyse progress on primary health care

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Health Systems Strengthening
• Primary Health Care

Background:

• Past global health campaigns demonstrate the impact of international financing on evidence-based, high-impact investments.
• Successful models exist for catalyzing domestic resource mobilization alongside international funding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for and identify targeted international funding for high-impact primary health care investments.
• To propose a costed, evidence-based package of interventions for donor support.

Main Methods:

• Identification and costing of specific, evidence-based primary health care interventions.
• Focus on community engagement, people-centered care models, and community health worker enhancement.
• Inclusion of strengthening digital tools, data systems, and training/supervisory mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Estimated annual international investment needed: US$1.87 billion (low) to $3.85 billion (high) over 3 years.
• Proposed investments target individuals/communities, primary care models, and community health workers.
• Cross-cutting support for digital/data systems and quality improvement in training/supervision.

Conclusions:

• Additional international investment in selected primary health care areas can yield major health impacts affordably.
• Scaling up these interventions in 59 low- and middle-income countries is feasible with targeted donor support.
• This investment model builds on successful paradigms from global disease control campaigns.