Juba Hosts Regional Talks on Health Sector Financing

(JUBA CITY) – The Public Financial Management (PFM) Secretariat and a visiting high level delegation from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) convened in Juba on Tuesday to discuss progress and strategies for improving health financing in South Sudan.

The meeting focused on strengthening South Sudan’s health care system through coordinated regional support and increased domestic investment. The IGAD joint platform facilitates regular and periodic reviews between the Ministries of Finance and Health on national health reforms and policy implementation.

Dr Mohammed Elduma, Head of IGAD’s Health and Social Development Division, told the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) that IGAD is playing a key role in enabling basic service delivery in South Sudan and promoting greater investment in the health sector across the continent. He underscored the importance of regional collaboration in addressing health system challenges.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Dr John Pasquale, Director General for Policy, Budget Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, said the initiative will greatly contribute to strengthening both domestic and national health financing.

He added that the strategy seeks to ensure that more resources are allocated for improved service delivery, especially in rural and underserved areas.

From the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Director General for Sectorial Planning, Mr John A. Garang, expressed appreciation to the IGAD High Level Delegation and development partners for their continued support and mobilisation of funding. He noted that these efforts are critical in enabling the government to meet its health sector obligations.

Although no specific budget figures were disclosed during the meeting, IGAD has been actively working with member states, including South Sudan, to enhance the capacity of public institutions to plan, finance and manage national health systems more efficiently.

South Sudan is under pressure to improve its health service delivery despite limited resources, rising population needs and ongoing economic challenges.

IGAD’s engagement is part of a wider regional approach that aims to reduce reliance on external funding by promoting more sustainable and nationally driven strategies.

The organisation’s health financing framework encourages governments to increase domestic health budgets and align them with national development goals.