The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved $258 million for the National Health Support Program (NHSP) to strengthen primary health care systems and accelerate national efforts toward universal health coverage in Pakistan.
NHSP is co-financed by the International Development Association and the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents
The World Bank Country Director for Pakistan Najy Benhassine said “Pakistan continues to make strides in health reforms toward ensuring access to primary healthcare services, especially for children and women during pregnancy and childbirth”.
“By strengthening provincial health systems, this program is foundational to building the country’s human capital and improving health and nutrition outcomes for its citizens,” he added.
The National Health Support Programme “complements ongoing investments in human capital and builds on health reforms that aim to improve quality and equitable access to healthcare services, especially in communities lagging behind national and regional-level health outcomes”.
“NHSP creates a national forum for the federal and provincial governments to exchange lessons and collaborate on achieving sustainable health financing and high quality and coverage of essential services,” said Hnin Hnin Pyne, Task Team Leader for the Program. “
The program will benefit all communities through improvements to provincial primary health care systems, particularly in approximately 20 districts that have the least access to health and nutrition services.
According to the press release, the NHSP is co-financed by the International Development Association ($258 million) and two grants ($82 million) from the Global Financing Facility (GEF) for Women, Children, and Adolescents (GFF), including a $40 million grant for protecting essential health services amid multiple global crises.
The GFF’s Head of Secretariat Monique Vledder said “The partnership between the GFF and the government of Pakistan focuses on building sustainable health systems while ensuring that all women, children, and adolescents, especially in the most vulnerable communities can access the services they need amid multiple crises”.
