First meeting of the Eastern Mediterranean Region Health Financing Taskforce

7 May 2026, Cairo, Egypt - The first meeting of the Eastern Mediterranean Region Health Financing Taskforce convened virtually on Sunday, 3 May 2026. Co-chaired by Egypt and Oman, the Taskforce includes representative from ministries of health and finance from across the Region.

Established by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, the taskforce aims to support countries advance health financing for stronger financial protection, explained WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy.

Providing a platform for enhanced collaboration with health partners and experts from the Region and beyond, the Taskforce builds on recommendations from the Ministerial Roundtable held during the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly in May 2025 under the theme "Reimagining WHO in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: stewardship, strategy and sustainability at a time of financial transition".

At a time when widening inequities and deep structural vulnerabilities are straining health systems across the Region, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings, the Taskforce aims to ensure that health systems are financially sustainable and capable of delivering essential services.

In the face of growing macroeconomic pressures, shrinking fiscal space and significant reductions in external aid, the Taskforce will focus on strengthening domestic financing, exploring innovative funding approaches and public-private partnerships, and advancing a shared regional roadmap for health financing.

The Region's diversity adds an extra layer of complexity. Countries differ widely in economic capacity, governance and health system structure, making tailored, context-specific approaches essential.

Many countries face persistent fiscal pressures, high out-of-pocket spending and fragmented financing systems that limit financial protection and slow progress towards universal health coverage (UHC).

While rising rates of noncommunicable diseases, population displacement and rapid technological change increase demand for more resilient and sustainable financing models, international aid is declining, resulting in financing gaps that weaken health systems' ability to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.

According to the 2025 Global UHC Monitoring Report, progress towards UHC in the Region remains slow and uneven. Coverage falls below the global average of 71%, leaving more than one-third of the population without access to essential health services

For many, the cost of care is a major barrier. Around 28% of people in the Region experience financial hardship when seeking care, with 22% doing so at the expense of basic needs such as food, housing and education, highlighting the ongoing burden of out-of-pocket spending.

Looking ahead, the Taskforce is expected to play a central role in driving more coordinated, strategic action on health financing across the Region. By strengthening collaboration, aligning priorities and advancing practical solutions, it aims to support countries in building more resilient health systems, ensuring that - even in the face of growing economic uncertainty - essential health services are accessible and affordable for all.