Financing for child health-related sustainable developing goals in Malawi – The potential impact of increasing domestic resources mobilisation on SDG and HSSP II targets
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Date
2022-05-19
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
Abstract
Type of study
The proposed study is a policy analysis that seeks to identify resources for increasing
government revenues and spending on child health and its related social determinants to
improve child outcomes in Malawi to meet the health sector strategic plan II’s (HSSP II)
commitments.
Problem
Malawi has made strides in improving child health outcomes over the past three decades.
This was achieved through considering and addressing child health determinants by
developing relevant policies and increasing health financing. The current HSSP II emphasises
the need to address determinants of child health and the importance of increased resource
mobilisation and efficient utilisation and mobilisation. The SDGs also include child health
targets and related determinants, which will require increased resource mobilisation.
Government expenditure on health and its determinants must therefore increase and be
allocated and used efficiently. The primary source of governments revenue is tax revenue
(70% in low-income countries), and it is reasonable to focus on how this could be increased.
There are both international and domestic tax gaps (the difference between that raised and
what could be raised). Other upstream influences include quality of governance, as it is known
that improved governance results in more efficient use of resources.
Objectives
The broad objective is to assess the potential for progress towards the child health related
SGD and the HSPP II targets if the domestic tax gap were reduced.
. The sub-objectives are to:
- Review literature on international treaties relevant to child health that Malawi has
ratified or signed and identify the parts of the constitution and policies pertinent to
child rights.
- assess the progress on child health related SGD targets through revenue raising and
- Identify the domestic tax gaps and use economic modelling to estimate the additional
number of children who would access their fundamental rights if the domestic tax gap
was reduced with an equivalent increase in government revenue.
Methodology
The analysis will identify all available estimates of government revenue losses in Malawi by
reviewing the literature, including reports by non-governmental organisations, international
financial organisations, and the government. We will employ the economic modelling from
the Government Revenue and Development project (the GRADE ) to estimate the number of
children who could access their fundamental rights if revenue losses were curtailed and if
domestic resource mobilisation increased. The GRADE uses panel data to model the impact
of increased government revenues on the SDGs while assuming the government spends any
additional income in the same way it has in recent years.
Expected findings
We expect to find a significant potential for increased government revenues to advance
progress on SGD targets critical for child health in Malawi.
Dissemination
The findings will be reported locally to COMREC and at the College of Medicine research
dissemination conference, in addition to peer-reviewed publication and presentation at
international scientific meetings.
Description
Keywords
Child Health Financing