Multilateral development banks and WHO launch new investment platform to strengthen primary health care services

Three multilateral development banks, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), have established the Health Impact Investment Platform to invest in and enhance primary healthcare services in low- and low-and-middle-income countries (LICs and LMICs).

Launched during the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris, the platform will provide an initial €1.5 billion in concessional loans and grants to expand the coverage and effectiveness of primary healthcare services, particularly for vulnerable and underserved populations. WHO will serve as the policy coordinator, ensuring that financing decisions align with national health priorities and strategies.

The platform's secretariat will assist governments in developing national health plans and prioritising investments in primary healthcare. Moreover, the platform aims to stimulate broader investments in primary healthcare in support of government health strategies.

The partner development banks are committed to supporting countries in strengthening their primary healthcare services to promote community health and enhance resilience against future health crises. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO estimated that LICs and LMICs needed to significantly increase their health spending, requiring an additional combined annual investment of US$371 billion by 2030 to achieve the health-related SDGs.

The Health Impact Investment Platform aims to catalyse and coordinate broader financing flows through national investment plans for primary healthcare. The platform's establishment builds on successful cooperation between countries, multilateral organisations, and development banks during the pandemic, as exemplified by collaborative efforts in Angola, Ethiopia, and Rwanda to strengthen health systems through technical assistance, grants, and advantageous investments.