Financing for Universal Health Coverage, A Myth or a Reality in Low- and Middle- Income Countries (LMICs): The Case of Cameroon

Abstract

The 17 Global Sustainable Development Goals were conceived and adopted by the United Nations in 2015, with an overall purpose to end poverty while protecting the planet and ensuring global peace and prosperity by 2030. One of the goals, Goal 3, directly relates to health by proclaiming good Health and wellbeing. Target 3.8 focuses on Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Universal Health Coverage is enshrined in the concept that all people have access to the full range of quality health services they need, when and where they need them, without suffering financial hardship. Therefore, UHC encourages financial risk protection including access to safe, effective, quality affordable essential medicines and vaccines to all. The achievement of target 3.8 of the Global Goals entails Government engagement and good political will in healthcare financing to limit out-of-pocket financing of healthcare. This can be achieved through dedicated government budgets to finance various aspects of the healthcare delivery system including essential medicines and health commodities, as well as health facilities within the rural communities. To realise this dedicated government funding, a structured questionnaire shall be administered to commercial directors of Brasseries du Cameroun, Guinness Cameroun, Kadji Beer Company, and Tobacco factories in Cameroon. The current rate of out-of-pocket financing of healthcare in Cameroon is approximately 70%. Thousands of families still suffer financial hardship. Besides, long travel distances to the nearest health facility, with no road networks are real obstacles to access to healthcare. This in turn affects targets 3.1 to 3.4 of the global goals. The current healthcare expenditure in Cameroon is 3.82% of GDP as of 2021, below the African average of 5.76%, the Sub-Saharan Africa average of 5.10% and the global average of 7.02% GDP. Considering the low political will, the low current healthcare spending, and the current crisis that are almost paralysing the economy, as recommendation, dedicated taxes on some commodities consumed within the country as source of finance to exclusively finance healthcare in enclaved areas of the country so that all people can indeed have access to the healthcare they need and where they need without suffering financial hardship