Pretoria, 19 March 2026 — South Africa’s National Department of Health jointly with World Health Organization Country Office in South Africa convened partners to launch the inaugural edition of the Health Financing Progress Matrix (HFPM) report in Pretoria. The event shared the HFPM findings and opened dialogue on practical options to strengthen health financing in support of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), with an emphasis on the use of evidence, focus on equity and sustainable progress, and strengthening planning for UHC.

The HFPM is a structured WHO approach that helps countries take stock of how health financing functions in practice;by systematically outlining how resources are raised, pooled and used to purchase health services, and how governance supports these decisions. In South Africa, the assessment was carried out through a country-led process that combined document review, stakeholder consultations and technical analysis to identify strengths, gaps and feasible actions, guided by a multi-stakeholder technical working group. WHO provided technical advisory services and supported the preparation of the report. The objective was to support informed choices and prioritization over time.

In his opening remarks, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health of South Africa, noted that the HFPM  report  “represents an important milestone in our collective journey to build a health system that is equitable, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of all who live in our country.”

Ms Shenaaz El-Halabi. WHO Representative in South Africa, highlighted the principle at the heart of the work: “Because health is a fundamental human right, not a privilege reserved for those who can afford it.” She further noted that “I am hopeful that the recommendations of this report will help inform ongoing policy reforms as the country advances towards Universal Health Coverage.”

During the launch, Dr Matthew Jowett, Unit Head for Governance, Policy and Financing at WHO headquarters, and Dr Joseph Kutzin, an independent consultant, walked participants through the key findings and their implications for service delivery and financial protection. Dr Kalipso Chalkidou, Director for Performance, Financing and Delivery at WHO headquarters, offered high-level reflections, recognising South Africa’s progress and urging stakeholders to use the evidence to prioritise practical actions, sustain dialogue, and track improvements over time aligned with universal health coverage goals.

The HFPM report launch discussion also focused on how stakeholders can translate the evidence into practical follow-up. This includes confirming priority actions, aligning responsibilities, and planning further engagement to socialise the findings with relevant structures across the health sector. Participants also discussed how to revisit the findings periodically to track progress and adjust priorities.

The National Department of Health provided strong leadership throughout the HFPM process, planning and convening stakeholders. WHO appreciates the constructive partnership and financial support of the United Kingdom, through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), which enabled this work.