Ethiopia Joins Brics Health Talks, Backs Stronger Global Cooperation
At the 15th BRICS Health Ministers' Meeting in Brasília, Ethiopia reaffirmed its commitment to global health equity, emphasizing the need for resilient health systems and progress toward Universal Health Coverage. The country also called for enhanced cooperation among...
South Korea Faces Fiscal Crisis in National Health Insurance
South Korea’s national health insurance system is facing a financial crisis, with rising premiums unlikely to ensure long-term fiscal stability, prompting the government to propose abolishing the subsidy sunset system and increasing state funding. However, experts...
Time for Africa to Replace the Curative Consumption Trap with Health Production Model
Africa’s health systems remain trapped in a costly, hospital-centered model focused on treating illness rather than preventing it, which is unsustainable given limited resources and a growing burden of non-communicable diseases. To achieve universal health coverage,...
Financing Sustainable Development: How ADB’s Theme Bonds are Transforming the Region
Since 2010, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised over $18 billion through specialized theme bonds to address critical challenges in water, education, and healthcare across the Asia-Pacific region, significantly improving access to clean water, educational...
A new vision for universal health coverage in an age of global displacement
A Lancet Public Health article calls for a cosmopolitan approach to UHC that ensures migrants and refugees have equitable access to health care through global solidarity and inclusive financing.As global migration and displacement reshape societies, a new Lancet...
Transforming Health Care Access in the Pacific Islands
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the need to invest in the service capability and resilience of the health systems of Pacific Island countries. Responding to this need, the World Bank launched three Health System Strengthening operations in Samoa (2020), Kiribati...
Tanzania turns to domestic taxes to close HIV and health funding gaps
Tanzania aims to raise Sh586.4 billion through new domestic taxes to close HIV and health financing gaps, as global donor support declines. The move marks a strategic shift in health financing.Tanzania has announced plans to raise Sh586.4 billion through new domestic...
Gavi and ADB to unlock sustainable immunisation financing in Asia
Gavi and the Asian Development Bank sign an agreement to expand health financing, support vaccine access, and strengthen health systems across 32 countries in Asia and the Pacific.Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a major new...
Health leaders chart path to sustainable, inclusive financing across the Commonwealth
At their 2025 meeting in Geneva, Commonwealth health ministers committed to long-term, equitable health financing, with a strong focus on innovation, primary care and support for vulnerable nations.At the 37th Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting in Geneva, leaders...
Jordan launches 2020–2022 health accounts and unveils reform roadmap
Jordan’s Health Ministry launches National Health Accounts and COVID-19 spending review, setting the stage for a new reform plan to strengthen health financing and expand universal health coverage.The Jordanian Ministry of Health has officially launched the National...
Uzbekistan hosts policy dialogue and WHO course on health financing reform
Accelerating its health system transformation, Uzbekistan hosted a High-Level Policy Dialogue and WHO Barcelona Course on Health Financing for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) tailored to the country context. The event is organised by the World Health Organization and...
Irish Government publishes Path to UHC Programme 2025+
The new government administration in Ireland, elected at the end of 2024 recently published their plan for continuing on the path to UHC. In 2017, the ten-year Sláintecare health plan was launched. This plan update builds on findings from previous progress...
Uganda doubles health allocation to 1.5 billion USD in FY 2025/26 Budget
Uganda has nearly doubled its health sector allocation to USh 5.87 trillion in FY 2025/26, aiming to strengthen service delivery, address health worker shortages, and upgrade medical infrastructure.Uganda has announced a significant increase in its health sector...
China never had free healthcare before its market reforms
The perception of a universal "free" medical care system in China's planned economy era is largely a myth, as most urban healthcare costs were covered by state employers while rural populations had almost no insurance or access to medical resources. Government surveys...
Philippines strengthens push for universal health care through UHC Act
The Philippines advances its Universal Health Care goals with automatic insurance for all citizens under PhilHealth, while tackling infrastructure and digital health challenges. The Philippine government is ramping up efforts to implement the Universal Health Care...