NHS Continuing Healthcare: deepening inequality and the ‘Postcode Lottery’ in access to vital care across England
NHS Continuing Healthcare in England is marked by stark regional inequalities, with eligibility and funding varying dramatically by postcode. Despite rising demand and spending, fewer people are deemed eligible, and inconsistent processes mean many miss out on vital...
Regional action framework for health financing to achieve universal health coverage and sustainable development in the Western Pacific
Universal health coverage (UHC) aims to ensure equitable access to quality health services without financial hardship, requiring adequate and sustainable public financing. In the WHO Western Pacific Region, economic growth has improved public health spending, yet many...
Catastrophic health expenditure among households with differently abled children and adolescents in Puducherry, India: a mixed-method study
Households caring for differently abled children often face unique financial and social challenges, with healthcare costs being one of the most significant burdens. The study Catastrophic health expenditure among households with differently abled children and...
Malaysian think tank renews call for health and social insurance, removal of sugar subsidies
The Galen Centre urges a national health and social insurance scheme with employer-employee contributions, removal of sugar subsidies, and scrapping of outpatient/specialist charges at public facilities to better fund health, aged care, and combat diabetes. The Galen...
Japan’s Aging Crisis Pushes Health Insurance Premiums to Record Highs
Japan’s aging population is driving up medical costs, with elderly care subsidies hitting 3.86 trillion yen and premiums at a record 9.34%. Nearly half of health insurance funds go to seniors, straining company associations and the state, prompting reforms to make...
Health Financing & Social Health Protection for Rare Diseases
Rare Diseases International (RDI) and the P4H Network are proud to share the outcomes of our joint initiative on health financing and social health protection for rare diseases. Read the report of the webinarRare Diseases International (RDI) and the P4H Network have...
The cost of inaction to strengthen the resilience of primary health care in Latin America and the Caribbean: a modelling study
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep vulnerabilities in primary health care (PHC) systems across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Fragile infrastructures, limited resources, and workforce shortages left millions at risk as essential services—such as immunizations,...
Philhealth explores data-driven overhaul of hospital payments for universal healthcare
Philippine health officials, with support from Thailand’s NHSO and the World Bank, are studying global budgets, DRG systems, and electronic claims to cut out-of-pocket costs and advance universal health care. Lessons from Thai hospitals aim to guide PhilHealth’s DRG...
All citizens in Vietnam to receive basic medical care free of charge by 2030
Vietnam’s Resolution 72 charts major healthcare reforms, shifting focus to prevention and primary care. By 2030, commune stations will be fully staffed, essential costs covered by insurance, and digital health expanded. Incentives, training, and ethics aim to build a...
Study Calls for Overhaul of Provider Payment Systems to Strengthen Tanzania’s Universal Health Insurance
A 2023–25 IHI–LSHTM study urges reform of Tanzania’s provider payment mechanisms as UHI rolls out. NHIF’s fee-for-service is reliable but paperwork-heavy, while capitation faces delays and low rates. Researchers call for fair, timely, and simple systems to boost...
More Investment Is Needed In New Zealand Health System
New Zealand’s tax-based health financing has remained stable but historically underfunded, with spending below OECD peers. OECD data is unreliable due to lack of updates and GST distortions. Adjusted 2023 figures show ~10.2–10.4% of GDP, close to averages; shifting to...
Disease-specific distress healthcare financing and catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditure for hospitalization care in Bangladesh
This study examined out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures for hospitalization in Bangladesh using data from the 2022 Household Income and Expenditure Survey covering 14,395 households. The average annual OOP cost per hospitalization was USD 418, nearly twice as high in...
Smart health spending: How to make every peso count
In this document published by the Inter-American Development Bank in 2023, the question of how to guarantee health for the populations of Latin America at a time of global crisis is addressed. The authors propose an approach where not only should health spending be...
Health taxes, an option for tackling Cameroon’s health budget deficit
Cameroonians are wondering whether health taxes could be part of the answer to tackling the challenge of the health budget deficit. These taxes can have a dual action, generating financial resources and reducing costly non-transmissible diseases. In September 2025,...
Strengthening Drug Reimbursement in Uzbekistan
GIZ BACKUP Health supports Uzbekistan’s State Health Insurance Fund in scaling up its drug reimbursement system — advancing universal health coverage and improving access to essential medicines.In June and September 2025, consultant Nataliia Hnatyuk provided targeted...