Health taxes can save lives and strengthen Africa’s health systems
A new Think Global Health analysis argues that health taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks could save lives, generate revenue, and strengthen Africa’s health systems.African governments face mounting health and fiscal pressures, and a new Think Global Health...
Primary health care policy investments in the Latin America context: Health systems experiences from Brazil, Chile, and Colombia
Primary Health Care (PHC) is widely recognised as the cornerstone of equitable and resilient health systems, offering an essential route toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). In Latin America, the persistence of deep social and health inequalities,...
Quality of care for chronic conditions: literature review and Delphi survey on the possible contribution of purchasing arrangements in low- and middle-income countries
Chronic conditions, both noncommunicable and infectious, are driving a surge in premature morbidity and mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Ensuring high-quality care for individuals living with these conditions is critical for health...
Bulgarian Doctors Raise Concerns Over Government’s Use of EU Recovery Plan Health Funds
Bulgaria’s doctors’ union warns a rural health project funded by EU money will fail, as practices are staffed by nurses unable to use planned equipment. Nearly 800,000 lack GP access, while low pay drives staff shortages. Protests loom as doctors and nurses demand...
ADB Approves $106.9 Million to Strengthen Secondary Health Care Services in Sri Lanka
ADB approved $106.9M to boost Sri Lanka’s secondary care, disease control, and governance. A $100M loan and $6.9M grant will fund hospital upgrades, integrated referral systems, a disease control center, lab accreditation, digital procurement, and pharma logistics,...
Nigeria seeks increase in Basic Healthcare Provision Fund
Nigeria plans to raise BHCPF funding from 1% to 2% of revenue and enroll 44M citizens in health insurance by 2030. With 70% out-of-pocket spending, govt seeks domestic funding, broader NHIA rollout, and state/private sector support to expand coverage and protect the...
Nigeria restates commitment to sustainable health financing, universal coverage
Nigeria boosted health spending from ₦434B (2018) to ₦2.4T (2024), now 5.18% of federal budget. New insurance reforms aim to enroll 4M citizens by 2030, reducing household health costs from 70%. Government targets universal coverage through innovative financing and...
Addressing public health and health system challenges in Greece: reform priorities in a changing landscape
Greece’s health system has faced mounting strain from ageing populations, chronic diseases, financial pressures, and shocks like COVID-19 and climate change, which have exposed deep structural weaknesses. Although multiple reforms have aimed to improve funding,...
Is a Spending Freeze Sufficient to Stabilise the Contribution Rate in Germany’s Statutory Health Insurance? A Counterfactual Simulation
Germany's statutory health insurance expenditure has consistently outpaced member contribution revenues by about 1% annually for nearly 25 years, necessitating further contribution rate increases unless policy changes occur. A proposed spending moratorium aims to...
Iranian MP Warns of Looming Health Care Funding Crisis
Iran’s health system faces collapse as rising costs, insurer debts, and an aging population strain financing. Pharmacies warn of drug shortages within months, with 80% near bankruptcy. Families pay 70% of health costs, while workers lack coverage, leaving system...
Germany Debates Who Should Cover the Costs of Unhealthy Eating
Obesity is straining Germany’s health system, costing up to €90B yearly. With half of adults overweight, politics remain divided: conservatives trust markets, while Greens push sugar taxes and VAT reform. Experts say real change needs political courage, not just...
Luxor’s universal health insurance system reaches over 90% of population
Egypt’s Universal Health Insurance System in Luxor has enrolled over 90% of residents, with state support for low‑income citizens. Backed by digital systems, quality standards, and expanded services, it delivered 5.6M treatments in 2024/25, making Luxor a model of...
The effect of performance-based financing interventions on health worker motivation and job satisfaction
Concerns exist that performance-based financing (PBF) may erode intrinsic motivation by emphasizing financial incentives, though it could also enhance morale through improved conditions. Using six national pilot evaluations across Cameroon, Kyrgyz Republic, Nigeria,...
Health drain: the effect of internal migration on regional disparities in healthcare costs
Internal migration in the Netherlands from 1998 to 2018 altered regional healthcare cost disparities by concentrating younger, healthier individuals in prosperous provinces and older, sicker individuals in disadvantaged ones. Using a novel framework that adjusts for...
SECM annual activity report, 2023 (Belgium)
In this document from 2023, the Service d'évaluation et de contrôle médicaux (SECM) of the Institut national d'assurance maladie-invalidité (INAMI) reports on its activities. The SECM's statutory mission is to ensure that the resources of the health care insurance...