Innovative Funding and Financing Models for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) in Low- and Middle-Income Countries in MENA Region

Health systems in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are striving to balance healthcare funding and rising costs in response to the substantial health burden posed by non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The task becomes even more challenging in the wake of economic turmoil such as those witnessed in Egypt and Lebanon. Concurrently, countries from North Africa like Morocco are looking to ensure long-term sustainability by establishing Health Technology Assessments (HTAs) aimed at optimizing spending and looking into innovative funding mechanisms for NCDs. Regardless of the driving factors, nations in the region are exploring novel methods for healthcare financing, such as blended financing models, multisource crowd funding, novel private insurances, Public Private Partnership, and others. What are the challenges and opportunities associated with financing non-communicable disease (NCD) care in resource-constrained settings? How can innovative approaches address these challenges? And how applicable are these approaches to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in MENA? This webinar convenes experts to exchange experiences and assess the feasibility of new financing models. Dr. Amal Yassine will discuss the challenges related to regulating expenditures associated with NCDs in Morocco and explore a new financing model that can support the control and management of these conditions while considering therapeutic progress and improved access to healthcare innovation. Dr. Wadih Mina will explain the impact of the financial crisis on the Lebanese health sector, including the unaffordability of healthcare for the majority of the population, the government's response to the crisis, a draft law for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) proposing new funding channels, and critical success factors for implementing innovative funding models based on the Lebanese experience. Dr. Mahmoud El Mahdawy will provide a focused analysis on Egypt, addressing the challenges and opportunities related to financing NCDs, exploring innovative approaches, and assessing their applicability within the Egyptian context.