Structure of the Healthcare

The Ministry of Health (MoH) is responsible for offering high quality and equitable healthcare services to the population. The ministry works with stakeholders including The Ministry of Welfare and Social Security, Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Board of Zakat, and the World Health Organization. The Department of Health Information, Department of Research & Evidence, and the Sudan Health Observatory (SHO) provide the Ministry with information and knowledge for health policy decisions and planning. 

The healthcare system is divided in three levels:

• Federal – At this level, national policies, plans, and strategies are formed including the mobilization, overall monitoring, and evaluation of resources.

• State – At this level, state’s policies, plans, and strategies are formed including mobilization, overall monitoring, and evaluation of resources according to federal guidelines.

• Local/District – At this level, national and state policies are implemented and  services are delivered according to a primary healthcare approach.

Financing Healthcare

Public healthcare is financed by the federal budget, which is allocated to federal level facilities, state facilities, local government level facilities, and army facilities. Social Security Funds also finance healthcare.

The National Health Insurance Fund has been on the forefront of securing quality and accessible healthcare to the population, which in turn reduces the burden of government health expenditure.

Based on Islam, Zakat is a religious obligation which requires Muslims who are above the minimum wealth threshold to help the poor families and disadvantaged individuals. The Zakat Chamber takes care of health expenses for these families, while the Ministry of Finance allocates a budget that finances healthcare for those retirees eligible for pension.

Investment Opportunities

• Pharmaceuticals and Medical Facilities

• Healthcare Information

• Healthcare Services

Start Ups & Technology

• oPerception

• SudaMed

• Dawaak

• Doctor on call

Challenges

The health sector in Sudan faces challenges toward development. Such challenges include but are not limited to:

• The quality of services offered at the primary level of healthcare remains an issue, especially in matters surrounding health insurance coverage and community engagement.

• Sudan lacks emergency healthcare services in primary care, as emergency services are only available at the secondary healthcare level.

• Out-of-pocket payments paid by the patients remain at an ultimate high frequency.

• There is not an official national database for patients despite the fact that the necessary software and telecommunication infrastructure is in place.

Solutions

• Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are needed to invest in the primary healthcare spaces to establish efficient facilities and centers.

• The government and other stakeholders must work to build a universal healthcare coverage system to ensure healthcare is accessible for all.

• PPPs are needed to facilitate the emergence and growth of startups in the healthcare space.