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Civil Society Pushes for Bold Health Reforms in Meeting with Health Minister

Civil Society Pushes for Bold Health Reforms in Meeting with Health Minister

Juba, South Sudan- August 7th, 2025

Yesterday, a dedicated team of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), led by the Network of AIDS & Health Service Organizations of South Sudan (NASOSS), met with the Minister of Health, Hon. Sarah Cleto Rial. The primary purpose of the high-level meeting was to formally present a comprehensive position paper developed during the recent Civil Society Reference Group (CSRG) meeting held in Juba on July 24th-25th, 2025.

The paper outlines urgent strategies for strengthening domestic health financing and raising healthcare standards across the country.

Key Proposals to the Minister of Health

The CSOs proposed a multi-pronged approach to address the nation’s health sector challenges:

  • Increased Budget Allocation: The team strongly advocated for increasing the budget allocation to 15% of the national budget for health. Crucially, they recommended that 5% of this total be ring-fenced specifically for critical disease areas, including HIV, Tuberculosis (TB), Hepatitis, and Malaria. To achieve this, innovative funding sources were suggested, such as imposing sin taxes on harmful products and various new levies.
  • National Health Insurance Scheme: A central proposal was the establishment of a National Health Insurance Scheme. This scheme is intended to effectively spread financial risk and significantly reduce the burden of out-of-pocket expenses on citizens. Citing successful models in countries like Ethiopia and Kenya, the CSOs proposed funding mechanisms that include government savings from medical tourism and institutional expenditures, alongside contributions from both employers and individuals.
  • Leveraging Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): The CSOs also emphasized the necessity of formalizing private sector engagement. They called for a framework to actively leverage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to supplement government efforts and contribute to the nation’s health goals.

Broader Discussion and Concerns

In addition to their financing proposals, the CSOs raised several other critical issues:

  • Hospital Conditions: Concerns were specifically raised regarding the hygienic conditions at Juba Teaching Hospital, with the group emphasizing that a cleaner environment is fundamental for effective patient recovery.
  • Health Sector Transformation Project (HSTP): Ongoing challenges with the Health Sector Transformation Project (HSTP) were discussed, particularly the persistent delay of incentive payments to dedicated healthcare workers.
  • National Ownership and Trust: The CSOs called on Minister Rial to ensure the country takes full ownership of its health care system. They also urged her to prioritize rebuilding trust and transforming the Ministry of Health into a credible, accountable, and transparent institution.

The Minister’s Response and Commitment

Minister Sarah Cleto Rial acknowledged the gravity of the issues raised, particularly those surrounding the HSTP and incentive payments. She made a clear commitment to addressing the delay, promising that incentives would be paid every month starting in the second phase of the project.

Furthermore, the Minister assured the delegation of the Ministry’s dedicated efforts to mobilize resources and stated that the domestic health financing options proposed by the Civil Society would be critically examined to ensure quality health care. She concluded by encouraging the CSOs to continue their vital role as accountability partners and maintain open discussions with the Ministry.