Abstract:
BACKGROUND : Achieving universal health coverage (UHC) requires health financing reforms (HFR) in many of the
countries. HFR are inherently political. The sustainable development goals (SDG) declaration provides a global
political commitment context that can influence HFR for UHC at national level. However, how the declaration has
influenced HFR discourse at the national level and how ministries of health and other stakeholders are using the
declaration to influence reforms towards UHC have not been explored. This review was conducted to provide
information and lessons on how SDG declaration can influence health financing reforms for UHC based on
countries experiences.
METHODS : We conducted a rapid review of literature and followed the preferred reporting items for systematic
review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guideline. We conducted a comprehensive electronic search on Ovid Medline,
PubMed, EBSCO, Scopus, Web of Science. In searching the electronic databases, we combined various conceptual
terms for “sustainable development goals” and “health financing” using Boolean operators. In addition, we
conducted manual searched using google scholar.
RESULTS : Twelve articles satisfied our eligibility criteria. The included articles were analyzed thematically, and the
results presented narratively. The SDG declaration has provided an enabling environment for putting in place
necessary legislations, reforming health financing organization, and revisions of national health polices to align to
the country’s commitment on UHC. However, there is limited information on the process; how health ministries
and other stakeholders have used SDG declaration to advocate, lobby, and engage various constituencies to
support HFR for UHC.
CONCLUSION : The SDG declaration can be a catalyst for health financing reform, providing reference for necessary
legislations and policies for financing UHC. However, to facilitate better cross-country learning on how SDG
declaration catalyzes HFR for UHC there, is need to examine the processes of how stakeholders have used the
declaration as window of opportunity to accelerate reforms.
