Purchasing health care from the private sector: a primer for middle-income countries in the WHO European Region
In response to growing interest among middle-income countries in the WHO European Region to engage private health-care providers (PHPs) within publicly funded health systems, the WHO Barcelona Office for Health Systems Financing has developed this primer to support...
Financing essential medicines and health supplies in Pakistan
ThinkWell Pakistan has recently published a series of insightful fact sheets exploring how public health facilities in Pakistan procure and finance essential medicines and health supplies (EMHS), along with the bottlenecks they face at each step of the process....
Medical care in Honduras is confirmed to be free of charge in public services
Free medical care in Honduran public facilities is confirmed by the Ministry of Health. It also points out that there is an ongoing process of revision of texts to facilitate their application and transparency. In December 2024, the Honduran Ministry of Health...
Ministry of Public Health of Uruguay, Decree n. 287/2012.
In 2012, Uruguay's Ministry of Health issued a decree updating the categories of free care administered by the National Health Fund (FONSA). Certain vulnerable groups and beneficiaries affiliated by quota to the state health services administration (ASSE) can receive...
Financing intersectoral action for health: a systematic review of co-financing models
The research article by Finn McGuire, Lavanya Vijayasingham, Anna Vassall, Roy Small, Douglas Webb, Teresa Guthrie, and Michelle Remme published in the Journal of Globalization and Health explores how shared financing mechanisms can support collaborative efforts...
WHO launches plan for free child cancer medicines in Nepal
WHO has launched a platform to provide free cancer medicines to children in low- and middle-income countries, aiming to improve survival rates. The initiative, supported by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, plans to benefit around 5,000 children this year and...
Ministry of Health and Stakeholders Discuss Financial Sustainability of Liberia’s Healthcare System
The Ministry of Health in Liberia has launched a workshop to assess the financial sustainability of the health system, focusing on the Liberia Health Equity Fund and the Liberia Social Health Insurance Scheme, with insights from various stakeholders on the need for...
Singapore: New Digital Tool Simplifies Health Insurance Decisions
The Health Insurance Planner (HIP), introduced by Singapore's CPF Board and Ministry of Health, is a digital tool that helps citizens navigate and make informed decisions about their health insurance coverage by providing personalized insights into costs, benefits,...
Turkish Social Security Institution’s healthcare spending surged by 77 pct in 2024
In 2024, Turkey's Social Security Institution (SGK) experienced a 77% increase in healthcare expenditures. The report also highlighted limited oversight, with only a small number of hospitals audited and investigations into thousands of individuals suspected of...
Overcoming coordination challenges between health and social services in the Republic of Korea
This policy brief, published by the WHO Centre for Health Development, explores the Republic of Korea’s long-term care (LTC) insurance system and the coordination challenges it faces between health and social services. Authored by Professor Soonman Kwon of Seoul...
Sustainable and gender equitable capacity building for health financing in Africa
Across nine African countries, a Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) assessment reveals critical gaps in the health financing workforce. These challenges stem from systemic issues in training and institutional structures. As global funding shifts and domestic...
Indians are quitting the safety net of health insurance; GST and high premiums are only part of the problem
In India, rising health insurance premiums and increased claim rejections are driving individuals to opt out of policies. Many feel overcharged and frustrated with inadequate coverage, exacerbated by taxes on premiums, leading to distrust in insurers and a search for...
Protecting global health partnerships in the era of destructive nationalism
In an opinion piece published by PLOS Global Public Health, Adam et al. (2025) examine the growing threat that rising nationalism poses to global health partnerships. The authors—Maya Adam, Desiree LaBeaud, Nokwanele Mbewu, and colleagues—highlight how shifts in the...
The global landscape of country-level health technology assessment processes
The global landscape of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) processes is evolving as countries strive to implement evidence-based decision-making for healthcare services. This survey, covering 104 countries, offers an insightful analysis of the current state of HTA...
Scotland faces ‘significant challenges’ in funding future health care, warns fiscal watchdog
Scotland faces a £1bn yearly funding gap as health costs rise with an ageing, unhealthy population, warns fiscal body. Without improved public health, taxes may rise or services face cuts. The Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC) has issued a stark warning about the...