IMFIN brief 21: Bhutan, a national trust fund for immunization

What factors have contributed to the success of the Bhutan Health Trust Fund, one of the longest-running funds dedicated to essential medicines, including vaccines?

Key points

• The Bhutan Health Trust Fund (BHTF) is a flexible financial tool established by the government to protect income for particular health priorities. The BHTF is the world’s longest-running national immunization financing trust fund.
• The BHTF is committed to fully financing all vaccines once donor support phases out.
• Factors contributing to the trust fund’s success include a small population, political champions, a supportive monarchy, flexible funding to meet emerging priorities, and good governance and accountability structures that can adapt to meet changing needs.
• The BHTF experience can provide lessons for other countries with similar national contexts.