HE2RO Contribution to The Lancet Series on Sexual & Reproductive Health
- FHS Communications
HE2RO is proud to have contributed to the newly launched Lancet Series on Innovations in Sexual & Reproductive Health
The Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office (HE2RO) is proud to have contributed to the newly launched Lancet Series on Innovations in Sexual & Reproductive Health (SRH). This landmark series brings together global expertise to address pressing challenges and opportunities in SRH.
The paper, “Who pays, and what pays off, in SRH”, provides a rapid review of the cost and cost-effectiveness of SRH interventions. HE2RO researchers Associate Professor Gesine Meyer-Rath, Dr Lise Jamieson, and the HE2RO team explore the future funding implications for these essential services.
Why This Matters
Sexual and reproductive health interventions are among the most cost-effective health interventions worldwide. Yet, they face severe funding constraints. These include HIV and STI prevention, contraceptive services, and abortion care.
In 2023, approximately US$35 billion was spent across low- and middle-income countries, falling short of the US$52 billion needed annually. Donor funding, which supports HIV treatment and contraceptive commodities, has declined since 2017, with major cuts in 2025 following the discontinuation of USAID funding.
Scaling Up Access
The paper highlights that cost-effectiveness improves when interventions expand the eligible population group, coverage, uptake, and demand. This can be achieved through community provision, integrated programming, and earlier care initiation.
Scaling up requires policy and market interventions to accelerate regulatory approval, enable self-care delivery models, and integrate rapidly evolving options within prevention systems.
Closing policy and financing gaps for contraceptive and abortion care is critical to sustaining progress.
Closing Financing Gaps to Drive Impact
To achieve population-level impact, HE2RO recommends that SRH programmes prioritise cost-effective interventions, expand access beyond health facilities, and strengthen integrated prevention systems that respect user choice. Addressing financing shortfalls through innovative funding mechanisms and policy reforms is essential for sustainability and scale.
Read the full article here.