"The global movement toward universal health coverage (UHC) is accompanied by requests for large increases in government health spending in some countries. This, combined with the global economic situation and stagnant economic growth across many low- and middle-income countries, makes it more critical than ever to place health financing discussions firmly in the context of macroeconomic and fiscal realities. Unfortunately, there is often a disconnect in decision making, with key fiscal decisions made in the absence of a clear understanding on the one hand of the potential consequences for the health sector."--Back cover.