The catastrophic cost of TB care: Understanding costs incurred by individuals undergoing TB care in LMICs, MICs, HICs
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health challenge, not only because of its health burden but also due to the significant financial hardships it imposes on patients and their families. This systematic review, conducted by Olivia Alise D’Silva and colleagues,...
Private health funds in Australia are gouging prices on insurance premiums despite warning from minister
Health Minister Mark Butler is urging an investigation into private health insurers for "product phoenixing," which involves closing existing policies and reopening similar ones at higher prices, thereby raising premiums without regulatory approval. Despite previous...
Cabinet approves universal health cover policy in Namibia
The cabinet has approved a universal health coverage policy to ensure all Namibians can access healthcare services without financial hardship. This initiative aligns with the country's Vision 2030 and aims to address existing challenges in healthcare access,...
Citizen participation in the political economy of primary healthcare financing in Nigeria: a cross-sectional survey
Published in Discover Health Systems by Springer Nature, the open-access article "Citizen participation in the political economy of primary healthcare financing in Nigeria: a cross-sectional survey" explores the critical role of civic engagement in shaping healthcare...
World Bank Provides Additional Financing to Improve Primary Health Care Quality in the Kyrgyz Republic
The World Bank has approved $11.45 million in additional funding to support the Kyrgyz Republic's efforts to enhance primary health care services by improving diagnostic capacity and implementing IT systems within the ongoing Primary Health Care Quality Improvement...
Africa CDC’s strategic vision for sustainable health financing
A brief from the Center for Global Development, A New Era for Global Health: Can African Countries Agree a New Compact with External Donors?, highlights the urgent need for African countries to strengthen health financing systems amid growing donor uncertainty. Africa...
Navigating donor shifts without sacrificing gender equity in health financing
As donor funding declines, gender equity risks being sidelined in health financing. FAH urges governments to adopt gender-responsive strategies to protect women’s health and achieve universal coverage. As global health systems adapt to decreasing donor support, a blog...
Healthcare systems and health economics in GCC countries: informing decision-makers from the perspective of the Gulf health economics association
The discovery of oil has enabled GCC countries to provide universal healthcare to their citizens, but rising healthcare demands pose challenges in financing these systems effectively. Experts in health economics from the Gulf Health Economics Association held a focus...
Supreme Decree approving regulations for Law No. 29698 on rare diseases.
On March 27, 2025, the Peruvian government enacted Supreme Decree No. 002-2025- SA. This approved regulations for Law No. 29698, a law that declares the treatment of people suffering from rare or orphan diseases to be of national interest and preferential attention....
New Uruguayan government analyzing changes in health financing
The undersecretary of the MSP of Uruguay reported that the government is analyzing changes in the financing of Fonasa and the calculation of capita. He also stressed the need to evaluate the economic and healthcare management of health institutions. In January 2025,...
Social Insurance Coverage for Informal Sector Workers in Viet Nam
Vietnam's voluntary social insurance program has significantly expanded over 30 years, reaching 2.311 million participants, but to meet the 2030 target of 60% coverage, further reforms are needed. The World Bank is collaborating with Vietnam Social Security to enhance...
Using income-based caps to protect people from user charges for health care
User charges for health care—such as co-payments for doctor visits, hospital stays, or medicines—can create significant barriers to accessing necessary services, particularly for people with low incomes. To mitigate this, some countries in Europe have adopted...
Bad news about National Health Insurance in South Africa
Government spending on healthcare in South Africa has decreased significantly in recent years, with the National Health Insurance (NHI) plans facing challenges due to prioritization of debt servicing over essential services. In recent years, government spending on...
Unpacking the new co-pay rule in Thailand
The new co-payment rule, effective March 20 in Thailand, requires private health insurance policyholders to share a portion of medical expenses. It aims to manage rising healthcare costs and encourage responsible consumption. The upcoming co-payment rule is poised to...
The case for investing in a healthier future for the European Union
A new report by R-Health Consult, commissioned the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), highlights the significant health and economic benefits of investing in the prevention, early detection, and treatment of five major...