Budgets for Children

Decisions made by governments on financing social services are critical for the well-being and development of children. The efficiency and equity of resource allocation directly impact the future health and education of boys and girls. To discuss best practices in this field, national specialists and UNICEF experts gathered for a three-day forum at the end of November.

The discussions focused on financing healthcare systems, with a particular emphasis on early intervention for children with developmental disabilities. Approximately 35 specialists participated in the event.

In his opening remarks, Alexey Shcherbinsky, Director of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Medical Technologies, Informatization, Management and Economics of Healthcare, congratulated UNICEF on bringing together colleagues from key ministries, regional executive committees, healthcare institutions, and universities involved in medical training. He commended the forum’s organizers for fostering discussions on effective healthcare financing and improving sustainable development indicators in the sector.

Belarus's healthcare system provides high-quality services for children. However, with more efficient management of public finances, healthcare services could become even better and more accessible for children, particularly those with disabilities and those living in rural areas.

UNICEF in Belarus, along with its counterparts in over 190 countries, works to measure public spending on children, analyze the data, and develop recommendations for more effective investment in children. These efforts aim to support the Sustainable Development Goals and uphold children's rights. By combining resources in this area, the quality of healthcare services for children can be significantly improved.

“We are constantly exploring new opportunities to better understand the healthcare needs of children. Following a thorough needs assessment, we can help create the conditions necessary to improve the quality and accessibility of medical care for every child in the country, especially for vulnerable groups,” said UNICEF Representative in Belarus Rustam Haydarov during his address to forum participants.

The forum provided a platform for discussing best regional practices and case studies. Participants delved into concepts such as healthcare cost calculation, budgeting, and financing, with a focus on early intervention.

“We’ve gained a wealth of useful insights here, including international assessments of public spending and new WHO tools for their analysis,” said Viktor Sharalo, Deputy Director of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Medical Technologies, Informatization, Management and Economics of Healthcare. “But the main benefit for me was being able to compare our healthcare financing system with those of neighboring countries. Examples from Azerbaijan, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and other countries in the region have been invaluable for evaluating how our system performs in comparison.”

Moreover, participants developed practical, action-oriented projects using international methodologies. These projects addressed the expansion of services for children with disabilities, cost assessment of early intervention services and their sustainable financing, widespread promotion of HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination, and more.

“We revisited the budget formation processes in Belarus and, as participants in local budget development, immediately applied the knowledge gained to our work. It was extremely useful,” shared Svetlana Linnik, Head of the Planning and Economic Group of the Brest Regional Executive Committee's Main Healthcare Directorate.

The forum facilitated networking among representatives from various systems, strengthening interagency collaboration. Participants discussed current gaps in effective operations and potential improvements for the future.

“It was important for us to exchange experiences with colleagues working at different levels. Establishing interpersonal connections will undoubtedly contribute to the success of our shared mission,” said Svetlana Tsybulskaya, Consultant at the Department of State Programs of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Belarus. “Additionally, we’ve identified new ways to collaborate with UNICEF and topics for joint projects that can further strengthen the capacity of the healthcare system.”

According to Aleksandra Jovic, Regional Early Childhood Development Specialist at UNICEF ECARO, this was the first time such a format of discussion had been conducted in the region, offering an excellent example for other countries to follow.