Dr Atiya Mosam
Atiya is a public health physician with over 15 years of experience in health system strengthening, spanning national policy development, health management, and the implementation of interventions. Her work focuses particularly on primary health care, including community health worker (CHW) programmes and telehealth for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
She has a strong interest in healthcare financing and economics, digital health, and human resources for health. She currently serves on the Steering Committee and technical working group for the WHO Roadmap for the Public Health and Emergency Workforce as well as the Council of Public Health Medicine, South Africa.
Atiya says: “The withdrawal of Official Development Assistance (ODA) [government aid provided by developed countries to developing countries] has profound implications for health systems and patients, particularly where external funding has supported critical HIV/TB and community services.
“This has led to a disruption of service delivery, exacerbation of health workforce shortages, and poses a threat to the continuity of care, ultimately leading to poorer health outcomes and widening health inequities.
“These circumstances underscore the urgent need to mobilise domestic resources more effectively, strengthen public financial management, leverage public-private partnerships (PPPs) and diversify donor engagement.
“However, it is imperative to recognise that non-governmental funding should supplement rather than substitute, sustainable domestic investment, particularly for essential health services, so as to ensure long-term resilience and sovereignty in health systems.”
