Kenya Boosts Cancer Coverage and Advances Universal Health Reforms
President Ruto announced expanded cancer coverage and key UHC reforms, including improved medicine supply and a new hospital equipment model. The government now insures 2.3 million vulnerable citizens, with goals to enhance efficiency, quality, and equity in...
Austria Launches €500 Million Health Reform Fund to Strengthen Care System
Austria’s coalition government will launch a €500 million-a-year Health Reform Fund to expand primary care, strengthen prevention, and boost digital health services. Welcomed by health agencies, the plan faces Green criticism for lacking structural reform and creating...
Iraq to expand national health insurance to nine provinces in 2026
Iraq will expand its national health insurance system to nine more provinces, starting next year, with full integration planned by 2026. Rollout will be phased, prioritizing government employees, social welfare recipients, people with disabilities, and retirees....
Nigeria and Cross River strengthen commitment to UHC
Nigeria and Cross River State reaffirm commitment to UHC progress at the 66th National Council for Health. Key reforms include expanded health insurance, primary healthcare upgrades, and increased federal funding. WHO and development partners support coordinated...
Australia proposes benchmark pricing overhaul for private hospitals
Australia may introduce a benchmark pricing model for private hospital funding by 2028, replacing negotiated contracts between insurers and hospitals. The proposed “Private National Efficient Price” aims to standardize costs and improve transparency but faces industry...
In Latin America, investing in health generates good returns
A new study conducted on Latin American data by the Wifor Institute confirms what health economists have been saying for a long time, that investments in a nation's health are not an expense, they are an investment.Health economists have long insisted that a nation's...
Bulgaria’s 2026 budget plans balance social spending with fiscal limits
Bulgaria’s parliament advanced the 2026 State, Social Insurance, and Health Insurance budgets, projecting 2.7% growth and a 3% deficit. The plans raise wages, pensions, and social contributions, but divide opinion—unions welcome income growth, while employers warn of...
Most Indians with Disabilities Lack Health Insurance: White Paper
Over 80% of Indians with disabilities lack health insurance; over half of applicants are rejected, often for their disability or pre-existing conditions. Barriers include unaffordable premiums, inaccessible platforms, and low awareness. Experts call for urgent...
Optimizing essential medicines lists to improve health and save costs
Many countries waste health resources by not systematically updating their essential medicines lists. Evidence-based reviews—like Uganda’s, which found savings from smarter diabetes drug choices—can improve access, equity, and health outcomes while freeing funds for...
Estonia to Revise Health Funding Model and Expand Preventive Care
Estonia’s Health Insurance Fund plans 2026 reforms to make health funding fairer and more efficient, linking family doctor payments to patient illness and regional needs. It will cut lab budgets, expand preventive screenings and mental health coverage, and add new...
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...
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...
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...