Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the EU4Health programme to benefit from EU funding opportunities
The European Commission and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina signed an agreement associating Bosnia and Herzegovina to the EU4Health programme. This will enhance the country's health system’s capacity to respond to immediate health needs of...
An Analysis of Laws on Health Insurance in Bosnia and Herzegovina
European Union's Council of Europe posted the following legal analysis report on its page dedicated to Social Security Coordination and Social Security Reforms: Document title: “An Analysis of Laws on Health Insurance in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Entity, Brcko District...
Austria’s Federal Law will enact “digital before outpatient before inpatient” principle for health financing sustainability
Federal Law "Vereinbarungsumsetzungsgesetz" (VUG) 2024 introduced changes to 13 laws to reform healthcare and to create the legal framework for the revision of planning. The bill aims to strengthen the private practice sector, expand digital services, support health...
Hospital reforms in place in Germany
Germany's hospital reform aims to improve financial stability and ensure high-quality inpatient care across the country. Set to be implemented in stages starting January 1, 2025, the reform focuses on meeting patients' needs while reducing bureaucratic burdens and...
Five-year tenure advances health financing policy in Mozambique
The five-year appointment of a P4H country focal person as health financing adviser to the Ministry of Health of Mozambique yielded multiple contributions. Complex relationships were deepened, and common cause was forged across sectors around shared interests and...
Development partner influence on domestic health financing contributions in Senegal: a mixed-methods case study
This study examines how development partners influence domestic health financing in Senegal, which is essential for achieving UHC. Researchers identified four main mechanisms of influence: setting standards, lobbying, providing policy advice, and offering financing....
The State program “Health of the people and demographic security” for 2021-2025 of the Republic of Belarus
By Resolution No. 28 of the Council of Ministers dated January 19, 2021, the State Program "Public Health and Demographic Security" for 2021-2025 was approved. Its goal is to create conditions for improving the health of the population, covering all stages of life,...
Bulgarian court’s suspension of financial limits on care volume will worsen the budget deficit
On Friday, 13 September, the Supreme Administrative Court finally suspended all financial limits on treatment for Bulgarian patients. This will increase the budget deficit faced by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) which is now obliged to pay hospitals even if...
Health Insurance Law of North Macedonia
Based on Article 75, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia, the President of the Republic of Macedonia and the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia approved the Law on Health Insurance through Decree on promulgation of...
WHO and the Ministry of Health of North Macedonia assessed barriers to care in rural areas
WHO and the Ministry of Health of North Macedonia published a report that assessed barriers to care in North Macedonia, focusing in rural areas and small urban settlements. In the overview of the report, WHO stated: This study, conducted in North Macedonia, explored...
The European Investment Bank loaned €100 million to Finland for the Laakso hospital complex in Helsinki
The European Investment Bank (EIB) commits €100 million for the construction of state-of-the-art Laakso Joint Hospital in Helsinki. The services will include psychiatric and neurological treatment, rehabilitation, geriatric and palliative care. The loan builds on...
Croatia: health system summary 2024 by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
The European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, which is part of WHO Regional Office for Europe, published a report titled Croatia: health system summary 2024. According to the authors, this report is based on the Croatia: Health System Review (HiT) published...
Romanian National Health Strategy 2023 – 2030 and the Action Plan
The National Health Strategy 2023 - 2030 of Romania (labeled as Annex no. 1) and the corresponding Action Plan for the period 2023 - 2030 (labelled as Annex no. 2) are approved by the Government Decision and are available at the Ministry of Health's webpage here. The...
The Health Care Insurance Act of the Republic of Serbia
The Health Care Insurance Act of the Republic of Serbia was originally published in the "Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia" Nos. 107/05 and 109/05 in the year 2005. The Act provides access to healthcare services and financial support during times of medical...
Use of healthcare services by the population in Côte d’Ivoire remains low
One of the aims of universal health coverage is to enable everyone to have equitable access to health care and services. This means that the use of health services is determined by health needs rather than other factors. The aim of this policy brief is to inform...