ADB strengthens healthcare and development support for Azerbaijan with new UHC initiative
ADB is launching the UHC PEERS network, investing $495,000 to help 43 countries—including Azerbaijan—share expertise, boost digital health tools, and improve UHC progress. The initiative addresses stalled UHC gains, urgent post-COVID gaps, and encourages private...
New data highlights wide gaps in EU health expenditure
EU healthcare spending reached €1.72 trillion in 2023 (10% of GDP). Germany led in total and share of GDP, while per-capita spending rose across all countries, with Romania seeing the fastest growth.Eurostat data released on November 2025 shows that healthcare...
Episode-based Payments in Health – An innovative proposal for Health Plans at the CLAVS 25 congress
André Medici es consultor sénior internacional en economía de la salud y estrategia de desarrollo sanitario - Autor en el blog Monitor de Saude | Doctor en Historia Económica.At the Latin American Congress on Value in Health (CLAVS 2025), held in Rio de Janeiro on...
Time to fully account for cost in monitoring financial protection and universal health coverage in low- and middle-income settings
This commentary, Time to Fully Account for Cost in Monitoring Financial Protection and Universal Health Coverage in Low- and Middle-Income Settings, published in Health Policy and Planning (18 November 2025) by Peter Binyaruka and Josephine Borghi, challenges current...
What can a ministry of finance do to improve health spending?
This ODI research report, What can a ministry of finance do to improve health spending? explores how governments—particularly in low- and lower-middle-income countries—can strengthen the efficiency and impact of health expenditure despite severe fiscal constraints....
Vietnam to add annual health checks to universal insurance benefits in 2026
Vietnam plans to offer free annual health checks for all citizens from 2026 to boost preventive care. The proposal, tied to Resolution 72, includes expanded insurance coverage, staff incentives, and flexible funding using state and employer contributions. Lawmakers...
Aligning global health initiatives with UHC: Insights from Pakistan’s evolving health aid landscape
The study examines how Global Health Initiatives (GHIs) align with Pakistan’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) amid reduced global aid and evolving national priorities. Using a political economy approach, it finds that expanding GHI mandates operate largely...
IBRAVS Framework: A Practical Path to Value in Healthcare and Value-Based Payment Models (Brazil)
This document (in Portuguese) published by the Brazilian Institute of Value for Health (IBRAVS) in 2023, proposes a concrete path towards the implementation of a value approach to health.
Impact of Out-of-pocket Health Payments on Poverty and Alignment of Public and External Health Financing in Guinea
This World Bank paper (2024), available in both English and French, investigates the impact of out-of-pocket payments for health services in Guinea. Among the conclusions, authors point out that public and external health financing patterns reinforce health access...
Time to fully account for cost in monitoring financial protection and universal health coverage in low- and middle-income settings
This commentary, Beyond cost-effectiveness: a reflective commentary on adapting global health technology assessment for equity considerations in South Africa and other LMICs, published in the International Journal for Equity in Health on 14 November 2025, examines the...
Armenia Advances Public Health with Tougher Tobacco Laws and Universal Health Insurance
Armenia’s tougher tobacco control laws and upcoming universal health insurance reform are designed to work together to reduce disease and protect families from catastrophic medical costs. Armenia’s First Deputy Health Minister, Lena Nanushyan, said the country’s new...
Japan’s nursing care costs surge to record ¥11.9 Trillion in fiscal 2024
Japan's nursing care costs reached ¥11.9 trillion in fiscal 2024, rising ¥424.2 billion year-on-year. Nursing care recipients increased to 5.73 million while preventive care recipients rose to 1.30 million. In-home care support remains the most utilized service....
Closing the deal: Financing our security against pandemic threats
The G20 High Level Independent Panel on Financing the Global Commons for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, reconvened by the South African G20 Presidency, has released a new report titled Closing the Deal: Financing Our Security Against Pandemic Threats. The report...
Primary health care policies and organization in South American countries
The report Primary health care policies and organisation in South American countries, authored by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and published in 2025, provides a comprehensive examination of how primary health care (PHC) is structured, governed, and...
Resource Creation and Allocation in the Transformation of Hungarian Healthcare Financing: Event Summary
The Hungarian conference on healthcare financing examined reforms in pharmaceutical policy, resource allocation, and digital transformation. Experts highlighted economic constraints, workforce shortages, and poor health outcomes. Key discussions included AI...