Certification of the primary care provider in the Philippines (September 2020)
The Philippine UHC Law aims to prioritize primary care, mandating that each citizen must be empaneled to a primary care provider within a health care provider network (HCPN). To ensure the quality of health care services, health professional training curricula will be...
An introduction to the Philippine universal health care law (2020)
The SP4PHC project is launching a series of briefs to describe health system reforms taking place under the UHC Law, emphasizing the impact these reforms have on health financing and PHC. The series will also include narratives from our field experience in Antique and...
Leveraging private sector primary care providers to increase access to family planning in the Philippines (September 2019)
The use of modern contraception in the Philippines is increasing steadily but is still very low compared to regional peers. Increased modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) is a key target of the Philippine government. Private providers, especially private...
The transforming health systems for universal care project in Kenya: A review (December 2020)
With support from the World Bank, the Global Financing Facility, and the Government of Japan, Kenya is implementing the Transforming Health Systems for Universal Care Project (THS-UCP) to improve reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH)...
Kenya: A review of Afya Care – The universal health coverage pilot program – In Isiolo County (September 2020)
In late 2018, the Government of Kenya launched the Afya Care Universal Health Coverage (UHC) pilot program in four counties in Kenya. Under the initiative, county governments discontinued all user fees at secondary public hospitals and, in return, received commodities...
Kenya: A review of Eduafya (March 2020)
The SP4PHC project team in Kenya undertook a rapid review of EduAfya, a scheme launched by the Government of Kenya to provide health insurance coverage to public secondary school students. This brief assesses how the program is working, drawing on implementation...
Kenya: A review of Makueni Care (October 2019)
Makueni county has launched a health financing scheme called Makueni Care, allowing registered households to access free services at public hospitals. This brief provides an overview of how the scheme works and discusses how the SP4PHC team will support the County...
Purchasing at the county level in Kenya (October 2019)
Strategic Purchasing for Primary Health Care (SP4PHC) project aims to improve how governments purchase primary health care (PHC) services, with a focus on family planning (FP) and maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH). The project is supported by the Bill &...
Health Insurance Associations of Japanese Corporations face deficit in wake of COVID 19
Japan’s Health Insurance Associations that is covered by the employer corporations based on contributions made from salaries has taken a hit due to COVID 19 estimates the National Federation of Health Insurance Societies. 78% of the nation's health-insurance unions...
Federal budget gives$2.3 billion boost to mental health services, with bulk going to diagnosis and treatment centres
The recently announced federal budget of Australia has among other healthcare initiatives, taken a special interest in mental health services, treatment centres and suicide prevention efforts. Of the $2.3 billion over 50% is going to a network of Commonwealth-funded...
$18b aged care budget outlines new care model
The federal budget includes almost $8 billion over four years to reform residential aged care with around half of that going toward funding and reporting a minimum of 200 care minutes for residents each day. The funding is part of a five-year $17.7 billion aged care...
Federal budget 2021: Health reforms could save Aussies millions
Key private health reforms revealed in the budget, which includes closing a loophole that dissuades people earning more than $90,000 a year from taking out private health insurance, slashing the cost of medical devices and reviewing tax rebates, could dramatically cut...
Bringing Private Midwives into Indonesia’s National Health Insurance Scheme: Brief (July 2020)
This brief summarizes findings from a landscaping study conducted by Universitas Gadjah Mada’s (UGM) Center for Reproductive Health, ThinkWell’s learning partner. Drawing from an extensive review of the literature, interviews with key stakeholders, and focus group...
Book Launch: Voice, Agency, Empowerment: The Handbook on Social Participation for UHC
The Handbook on Social Participation for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) will be launched on 31 May at 14:00 – 15:00 CET. WHO, UHC2030, Health System Governance Collaborative, UHC-Partnership, and PMNCH invite you to the launch of...
Uganda’s Emergency Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study (September 2020)
This case study provides a preliminary review of the Government of Uganda’s initial response to COVID-19 from March to June 2020 across institutional, financial, and operational dimensions. It seeks to capture the priorities and investments made early in the...