Giving Compass' Take:

• Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank, asked developing countries to contribute financially to the global health and advancement of their nations. 

• How can the World Bank work with local governments and impact investors to build comprehensive financing plans?

• Read more about making an impact on global health. 

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim called on developing countries to demonstrate commitment towards their people facing grave health challenges by allocating adequate financial resources for health.

He was speaking at a panel discussion held as part of a gala dinner organised in honour of tuberculosis (TB) survivors, activists, global health leaders and celebrities fighting against tuberculosis.

“When we reported this to the health ministry and the World Health Organisation [WHO], seeking their assistance for treatment, we were told that we shouldn’t take up this issue as the drugs were too expensive,” he told the audience, regretting how an international organisation and the government apathetically responded to a health emergency.

His team, however, didn’t give up and treated patients with the help of nurses and community workers. The work had a huge impact and led the WHO and Peruvian government to change their policies, recommending all persons with MDR tuberculosis be treated regardless of cost.

He was critical of developing countries demanding funds for health but not willing to spend their own money on their people. “After spending 30 years in the field, I have realised that countries demanding funds for their health projects are not ready to make a commitment for their own people and allocate [sufficient] budget for health. On the contrary, however, they subsidise oil, gas and agriculture, serving only the rich.”

“Now is the time to raise collective voice to save millions of lives. We must begin a change to end TB.”

Read the full article about financing global heath by Faiza Ilyas at DAWN