Health financing in response to COVID-19: An agenda for research

The global spread of COVID-19 has affected both the health and economic condition of countries, with major health system impacts. There has been an immediate need to invest in clinical services to treat patients and mount an effective public health response, requiring substantial increases in health spending. But the impact of the pandemic on the global economy also raises challenges for future health spending, with potential impacts on commitments to universal health coverage. In this working paper we outline a broad research agenda that would help countries deal with the health financing challenges they are facing, and emerge from the COVID-19 crisis with stronger health financing systems. While recognising that research priorities must be tailored to the needs of specific countries, we argue there is much to be gained by starting from a common agenda, which could enable a coordinated approach and maximise the potential for cross-country comparative work. Such a body of research will enable lessons to be drawn for (i) managing the current crisis; (ii) ensuring resilience of health systems to future shocks; and (iii) enhancing medium-term progress towards UHC.