The government of Javier Milei announced that it will take Argentina out of the World Health Organization (WHO). Shortly after this announcement, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) shared a document highlighting lessons learned during the Covid-19 pandemic, emphasizing the importance of strengthening health financing, especially after the health crisis.
In the IMF report, it is pointed out that the pandemic revealed serious deficiencies in international coordination and the unequal distribution of vaccines among countries of different income levels. Ignoring these lessons could have serious consequences for global health, warn authors Victoria Fan and Sanjeev Gupta.
The creation of a permanent coordination body, alongside the World Bank and the WHO, is proposed to promote dialogue, collaboration, and transparency among the parties involved in health and finance globally. The IMF emphasizes the need to avoid repeating past mistakes, such as fragmentation in coordinating donations during health crises.
The report also addresses the issue of the decline in fiscal recovery and the increase in debt in low- and middle-income countries, which limits the resources available for sectors like health and education. It highlights that, while there has been an increase in health donation programs and funds, it is necessary to prioritize strengthening health systems in each country and integrating global initiatives into local strategies.
The IMF suggests focusing on integrated strategies that address the complex interactions between health, economic, and social factors. Additionally, there is a call for reforming and reinforcing health systems, with the creation of a permanent international coordination body in health and finance to improve coordination and accountability.
