Unraveling the Political Economy of Health Financing: A Comprehensive Guide for Universal Health Coverage Success

The Political Economy of Health Financing: How-to Guide is a comprehensive approach to organizing and analyzing political economy factors that can affect health financing reform. This guide, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), acknowledges the significance of political economy factors in shaping the trajectory of health financing reform. It offers a structured process for analyzing and thinking systematically about issues concerning health financing and political economy.

To achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), it’s important to understand the different stakeholders involved in health financing reform, their power dynamics, interests, and positioning. By doing so, strategies can be developed to address stakeholders’ resistance and harness their support. Additionally, analyzing institutions that influence the bargaining process and other contextual and economic factors can enhance the chances of effective design, adoption, and implementation of reforms.