This study investigated health financing challenges in achieving UHC among countries in Southeast Asia using a systematic review. The study also provided policy recommendations at regional and national levels.
The 10 countries were included in the systematic review: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, , Myanmar, and Vietnam.
Of 160 articles, 32 articles were included in the analysis. Findings identified main six challenges in health financing towards achieving UHC in the Southeast Asian region as follows:
- Unsustainability of revenue-raising methods
- Fragmented health insurance schemes
- Incongruity between insurance benefits and people’s needs
- Political and legislative indifference
- Intractable and rapidly rising healthcare cost
- Morally reprehensible behaviours
The challenges identified are diverse and therefore require a multifaceted approach. Regional collaborative efforts between countries will play an essential role in the progress towards UHC and in narrowing the inequity gap.
