South Korea’s healthcare expenditure: a comprehensive study of public and private spending across health conditions, demographics, and payer types (2011–2020)
South Korea's healthcare expenditure rose significantly from $45.6 billion in 2011 to $76.9 billion in 2020, accounting for 9.3% of GDP. Despite universal health coverage, out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses remain high, particularly for women and the elderly. Public...
Progress in universal health in the Americas
PAHO’s new report explores unmet healthcare needs, essential service coverage, and financial protection in the Americas. It examines access barriers, economic impacts, and policy gaps, highlighting primary health care's crucial role in advancing equitable, universal...
New EU regulation on Health Technology Assessment takes effect
As of January 12, 2025, the EU's Health Technology Assessment Regulation (EU 2021/2282) is officially in force, marking a significant step towards greater collaboration across 27+ countries in evaluating health technologies to improve healthcare decisions.The European...
Situation Analysis by WHO: Primary Health Care Financing in Ukraine
On 16 October 2023, WHO issued a report titled "Primary health care financing in Ukraine: a situation analysis and policy considerations". As reported by WHO-Europe, this report delves into the current state of primary health care (PHC) financing in Ukraine and...
Effects of cash transfers on tuberculosis outcomes by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors
A recent study published in Nature Medicine titled "Effects of conditional cash transfers on tuberculosis incidence and mortality according to race, ethnicity and socioeconomic factors in the 100 Million Brazilian Cohort" explores the impact of Brazil's Bolsa Família...
Brazil exempts taxes on ultra-processed food
Brazil’s exemption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) from a selective tax risks worsening non-communicable diseases. Evidence links UPFs to chronic illnesses, highlighting the need for stronger fiscal measures. The Lancet reports that Brazil's decision to exclude...
Trends in the financialisation of outpatient care
This paper summarises the findings of research into the financialisation of outpatient care across OECD countries. While financialisation was reported to be a concern by a majority of responding countries, how financialisation is taking place also varies depending on...
Moldova received 2nd phase grant from Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation to improve health financing
Switzerland supports Moldova’s efforts to achieve better health of the population, through ensuring universal access to affordable medical services of good quality. In its 2nd (exit) phase that will end in June 2027, Moldova will receive a grant of over CHF 3.3...
Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the EU4Health programme to benefit from EU funding opportunities
The European Commission and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina signed an agreement associating Bosnia and Herzegovina to the EU4Health programme. This will enhance the country's health system’s capacity to respond to immediate health needs of...
An Analysis of Laws on Health Insurance in Bosnia and Herzegovina
European Union's Council of Europe posted the following legal analysis report on its page dedicated to Social Security Coordination and Social Security Reforms: Document title: “An Analysis of Laws on Health Insurance in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Entity, Brcko District...
Austria’s Federal Law will enact “digital before outpatient before inpatient” principle for health financing sustainability
Federal Law "Vereinbarungsumsetzungsgesetz" (VUG) 2024 introduced changes to 13 laws to reform healthcare and to create the legal framework for the revision of planning. The bill aims to strengthen the private practice sector, expand digital services, support health...
Five-year tenure advances health financing policy in Mozambique
The five-year appointment of a P4H country focal person as health financing adviser to the Ministry of Health of Mozambique yielded multiple contributions. Complex relationships were deepened, and common cause was forged across sectors around shared interests and...
Bulgarian court’s suspension of financial limits on care volume will worsen the budget deficit
On Friday, 13 September, the Supreme Administrative Court finally suspended all financial limits on treatment for Bulgarian patients. This will increase the budget deficit faced by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) which is now obliged to pay hospitals even if...
Health Insurance Law of North Macedonia
Based on Article 75, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia, the President of the Republic of Macedonia and the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia approved the Law on Health Insurance through Decree on promulgation of...
WHO and the Ministry of Health of North Macedonia assessed barriers to care in rural areas
WHO and the Ministry of Health of North Macedonia published a report that assessed barriers to care in North Macedonia, focusing in rural areas and small urban settlements. In the overview of the report, WHO stated: This study, conducted in North Macedonia, explored...