Barbados celebrates UHC day 2024
On UHC day in December 2024, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean nations reconfirm their commitment to access for their population to quality health services, without financial hardship. Achieving this goal is a particular challenge for small island developing states,...
5th Edition of the WHO Global School on Refugee and Migrant Health
The WHO Global School on Refugee and Migrant Health convened experts to advance Universal Health Coverage for displaced populations. Discussions focused on inclusive policies, health financing, and integrating migrants into national health systems.The 5th edition of...
Cultivating resilience: How Malawi can transform social protection and end poverty
Malawi must strengthen its social protection system to combat climate change, economic instability, and poverty. By establishing government farms, enhancing NGO collaboration, and ensuring effective policy implementation, the country can work towards achieving its...
Achieving social justice through inclusive social health protection
The ILO and Mahidol University are hosting a special event on 6 February 2025 to mark the World Day of Social Justice. The event will highlight the importance of universal social health protection in advancing social justice.To commemorate the World Day of Social...
Effective execution of the health budget in Cochabamba is desired
The public treasury budget for the health sector in Cochabamba has been determined. In previous years, part of the budget for the single health system was not executed. For this reason, the authorities suggest that, in 2025, this challenge should be overcome with...
Indonesia strengthens health expenditure tracking to advance universal health coverage
Indonesia is enhancing health expenditure tracking to improve resource allocation and accelerate progress toward universal health coverage (UHC). Supported by WHO, the Ministry of Health is adopting advanced tools to refine spending analysis and strengthen health...
WHO webinar on key findings of the Global Health Expenditure Report 2024
WHO has updated the Global Health Expenditure Database (GHED) for over 190 Member States and is hosting a Webinar on February 4, 2025, to discuss the key findings of the 2024 Global Health Expenditure Report launched in December 2024. The World Health Organization...
Key Achievements of Viet Nam Social Security in 2024
In 2024, Viet Nam Social Security (VSS) made significant progress in advancing social and health insurance systems. The agency proactively advised on legislative reforms, leading to the passage of the revised Law on Social Insurance No. 41/2024/QH15 and the amended...
Effective member coverage to be reached by 2025
For the year 2025, which has just begun, there are several challenges for the health system in the Dominican Republic, in order to achieve effective health coverage of the population affiliated to the Family Health Insurance. Among others, it will be necessary to...
Financialisation: a 21st century commercial determinant of health equity
Published in The Lancet Public Health, the research article Financialisation: a 21st Century Commercial Determinant of Health Equity by Sharon Friel, Ashley Schram, Nick Frank, Megan Arthur, Bel Townsend, and Hridesh Gajurel explores how financial markets shape public...
Paris to host 11th IRDES-LIRAES workshop on applied health economics and policy evaluation
The 11th IRDES-LIRAES Workshop on Applied Health Economics and Policy Evaluation will be held in Paris on June 16-17, 2025. Experts will discuss healthcare equity, financing, and policy evaluation. The event includes presentations, discussions, and networking....
Containing costs and nudging doctors and hospitals towards policy goals in Japan
Japan controls health care costs with a fee schedule setting prices and billing conditions. The fee schedule is revised biennially to align with policy goals. Annual price cuts for pharmaceuticals and devices create fiscal space for priority areas. This approach could...
PhilHealth benefits now cover outpatient emergency services
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has introduced the Outpatient Emergency Care Benefit (OECB) package, effective January 1, following PhilHealth Circular No. 2024-0033. This initiative allows coverage for emergency procedures and services for patients...
Progress in universal health in the Americas
PAHO’s new report explores unmet healthcare needs, essential service coverage, and financial protection in the Americas. It examines access barriers, economic impacts, and policy gaps, highlighting primary health care's crucial role in advancing equitable, universal...
Iceland’s Act on the Integration of Services in the Interest of Children’s Prosperity (“Prosperity Act”)
Iceland’s Act on the Integration of Services in the Interest of Children’s Prosperity (“Prosperity Act”) seeks to enhance child well-being by ensuring the provision of comprehensive services to children and families early in the policy process. The formal development...