Ownership of health financing policies in low-income countries: a journey with more than one pathway

Ownership of development policies in low-income countries (LICs) remains a topical and sensitive issue as it actually questions countries genuine capacity to successfully lead and sustain policies in the long run. Health financing in LICs is at the crossroad of many of the tensions created by aid assistance-central to debates is the potential noxious role of external actors that could preclude country ownership. As many LICs continue to need external financial assistance for many more years, it is important to understand how country ownership emerge and how external actors can contribute to this process. Based on our hands-on experience, we argue that there is more than one pathway, but any effective and sustained health financing policy requires critical thinking, sound knowledge, sharing of experiences and learning, attention to political economy issues and broad stakeholder support.