Economists explain how the NHI can work in South Africa
Economists express concerns about the viability of South Africa's National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, citing the government's struggle to secure funding and the potential dismantling of existing medical schemes, which are already under strain. Economists have...
Willingness to pay for a quality-adjusted life year (QALY) in Pakistan: implications for health policy
This study investigates the willingness to pay (WTP) for one additional Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) among the general population in Pakistan, highlighting the economic constraints in healthcare resource allocation. A survey revealed a mean WTP of 114,006.4...
Implications of U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization on health financing in Africa
The U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) could severely impact global health financing, especially in Africa, where its previous contributions supported vital health programs for HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, tuberculosis, and malaria. This...
Tanzania, Korea explore ways to make UHC work
Tanzania has partnered with Korea's KOICA to enhance its health sector through a knowledge-sharing initiative, focusing on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and technical assistance from Korea's Q-Deep program. The collaboration aims to develop a comprehensive...
Public-Private-Partnerships for Primary Care in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh: Lessons on pathways and drivers
In their recent publication in The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Shehla Zaidi, A. Venkat Raman, Mahbub Elahi Chowdhury, Farooq Azam, and Priya Balasubramanium examine the evolution and implementation of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in...
Out-of-pocket spending still high in Morocco despite state efforts
Despite notable increases in public spending, Moroccan households continue to shoulder 38% of health costs—well above the WHO's 25% threshold for financial protection.A new report from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection reveals that out-of-pocket payments...
Advocates push to end benefit cuts for hospitalised New Zealanders
New Zealanders facing long hospital stays risk financial stress due to a policy that cuts benefits after 13 weeks. Advocates call for reforms to support patients' needs. Rising healthcare costs add to the burden, prompting a public petition for changes to ensure...
Italy strengthens health-care rights for homeless people
Homeless individuals in Italy face significant health challenges due to poor access to care. A new law enacted in November 2024 aims to improve their access to general practitioners, addressing health inequities and ensuring their right to health care, while also...
Towards attaining universal health coverage in Kazakhstan: Challenges and important next steps
Kazakhstan’s journey toward universal health coverage (UHC) has been shaped by its post-Soviet legacy of an underfunded, hospital-centric healthcare system and a range of structural challenges. In Towards attaining universal health coverage in Kazakhstan: Challenges...
Effectiveness of PFHI Schemes in India
A study in Economic & Political Weekly by Mamta Chaudhary, Prakash Babu Kodali, and T Sundararaman assesses publicly funded health insurance (PFHI) schemes in India using nationally representative data from the 2022–23 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey...
Revising SDG indicator 3.8.2: A new approach to measuring financial protection in health
SDG indicator 3.8.2 has been revised to better capture financial hardship from health costs, now measuring out-of-pocket spending over 40% of discretionary income to reflect poverty impact. SDG indicator 3.8.2 is designed to measure financial protection in health—an...
Belize Prime Minister announces nationwide Health Insurance rollout
The Prime Minister of Belize announces full National Health Insurance (NHI) rollout by the end of 2025. The NHI has been implemented in phases and now will reach the entire population with the goal of bringing affordable quality health care to all Belizeans.In May...
Vietnam charts path toward universal free healthcare by 2045
Vietnam's Health Ministry unveils a plan to eliminate healthcare fees, aiming for 100% insurance coverage and equitable access to services by 2045. Vietnam’s Ministry of Health has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to make universal, free healthcare a reality by 2045. In...
Health ¬financing challenges and institutional options to move towards universal coverage in Nicaragua
This paper, published by the World Health Organization in 2010, provides an analysis of the Nicaraguan health financing system. Country performance was assessed using selected health financing performance indicators. The analysis revealed health financing system...
A UK wealth tax for better health
In the face of deepening health inequalities and a crisis of underfunding in the UK’s National Health Service, a growing body of experts argues that it is time to revisit the idea of a wealth tax. With over four million children living in relative poverty, and with...