Course Overview

The course consists of comprehensive modules which will provide you with innovative approaches to securing long-term sustainable financing for health and experiences from countries successfully using various fiscal means for sustainable financing and funding models for health promotion. Strategies and steps to develop sustainable financing mechanisms for health promotion at the country level and assessment frameworks are also included.

A health promotion fund is an investment for any country towards safeguarding the health and well-being of its population. With noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) escalating globally, resulting in human productivity losses due to illnesses, early deaths, and disability, countries are shouldering ever-increasing healthcare costs. Health promotion and disease prevention programmes help reduce the burden of NCDs and mitigate the corresponding economic and social burdens. These programmes require long-term and sustainable funding allocated via a dedicated tax for a health promotion fund.

Sustainable financing is critical for accelerating the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control implementation to address NCDs and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for improving global health.

Course Learning Outcomes

What will you learn?

Upon completion of the four modules, participants are expected to:

Demonstrate understanding of key concepts, principles, and arguments that support sustainable financing for health promotion and tobacco control including:

the importance of sustainable financing for health promotion (from a global perspective based on International Guiding Principles)
the funding gap and sources for health spending
the fiscal mechanisms to generate sustainable financing for health promotion
health taxes as a cost-effective measure to address the NCDs burden
the fund management of health promotion models
the counter-arguments about tobacco tax increases

Learn from the experience of countries that have adopted / implemented sustainable financing mechanisms:

using tax revenues for health purposes
using tax measures to secure sustainable financing for health promotion and tobacco control
raising excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in reducing the use of these health-harm products, saving lives and generating revenues
implementing health promotion models (successfully starts and manages funds)
impact of the fund on government revenue and investing in health promotion
impact assessment using the Social Return on Investment (SROI) framework (ThaiHealth case study)

Identify and understand the process of setting up sustainable financing for health promotion (conceptualization, policy framework, governance model, monitoring, and evaluation)

Demonstrate competencies in implementing strategies to advocate tax increase / dedicated tax (advocacy, challenges, lessons learned)

Demonstrate practical understanding and application of the assessment of the health promotion fund models, projects / programmes funded)

Course Target
Who is this course for?

The course is relevant for policymakers, researchers, public health advocates, and anyone with an interest in learning about using fiscal measures as a tool to generate an innovative and sustainable financing mechanism for health promotion and tobacco control. Individuals do not need to have any professional background to benefit from this course, but having some basic knowledge or experience will be helpful to your learning (particularly in a health-related field).

Course Structure and Format

The course consists of four modules that cover fundamental concepts, international evidence, and case studies/ country experience to hone the participant’s knowledge and skills on innovative approaches to secure reliable, long-term, and sustainable financing for health promotion. It is designed to develop and enhance the participant’s practical knowledge and skills on innovative and sustainable financing mechanism for health promotion and tobacco control. The course will be delivered through a combination of easy-to-understand short, interactive videos, practice exercises/quizzes, self-paced reading resources, and pre-/post-self-assessment. It offers up to 4 hours of a virtual learning experience. All the course materials are available only in English.

Course Speakers

Gain insight into Innovative and Sustainable Financing Mechanism for Health Promotion and Tobacco Control. Learn the fundamental from our health promotion and economic experts.