The World Bank Group has announced an ambitious plan to support countries in delivering quality, affordable health services to 1.5 billion people by 2030.

This is part of a larger global effort to provide a basic standard of care through every stage of a person’s life i.e. infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.

The strategy to reach 1.5 billion people is focused on three core elements:

• Expanding focus from maternal and child health to include coverage throughout a person’s lifetime, including non-communicable diseases
• Expanding operations to hard-to-reach areas, including remote villages, cities, and countries
• Working with governments to cut unnecessary fees and other financial barriers to healthcare

To be counted toward this goal, a person must be seen and treated by a healthcare worker via an in-person visit or telehealth.

For countries most in need, International Development Association (IDA) financing will make it possible to bring healthcare workers into communities where people may otherwise have no access to services. In middle-income countries, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) will deploy financing to incentivise government investments in health and regulations that move a country forward.

With regulatory certainty and reliable governance in place, it opens the door for more private sector investments, especially in local production of medications and protective gear.