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...
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...
New EU regulation on Health Technology Assessment takes effect
As of January 12, 2025, the EU's Health Technology Assessment Regulation (EU 2021/2282) is officially in force, marking a significant step towards greater collaboration across 27+ countries in evaluating health technologies to improve healthcare decisions.The European...
Minister of Health of Belarus welcomed Belarusbank’s investment into renewal of ambulance vehicles in rural areas and small towns
Belarusbank and the Ministry of Health have signed an agreement to launch a new social initiative titled "Affordable Medical Care with Belarusbank." This project aims to modernize the fleet of medical vehicles serving healthcare institutions in rural areas and small...
Brazil exempts taxes on ultra-processed food
Brazil’s exemption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) from a selective tax risks worsening non-communicable diseases. Evidence links UPFs to chronic illnesses, highlighting the need for stronger fiscal measures. The Lancet reports that Brazil's decision to exclude...
Moldova received 2nd phase grant from Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation to improve health financing
Switzerland supports Moldova’s efforts to achieve better health of the population, through ensuring universal access to affordable medical services of good quality. In its 2nd (exit) phase that will end in June 2027, Moldova will receive a grant of over CHF 3.3...
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...
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...
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...
Reflections on Public-Private-Partnerships for Primary Care in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) for primary care services have grown significantly in South Asian countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, largely driven by local initiatives rather than central government planning. These partnerships have evolved from...
Croatia hosted the European Forum for Insurance against Injuries at Work and Occupational Diseases
The Croatian Institute for Health Insurance and the Croatian Institute for Pension Insurance hosted the European Forum of the Insurance Against Accidents at Work and Occupational Diseases from 4 to 6 June 2024, in Zagreb, Croatia. The conference was titled "Be fit for...
Capacity building for transitioning to health insurance in Uzbekistan
GIZ and SHIF trained 16 financial staff in Karakalpakstan to implement health insurance mechanisms, supporting Uzbekistan's healthcare reform launching in January 2025. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the State Health Insurance...
Compulsory health insurance: contribution levels now known
On Thursday, October 31, 2024, government spokesman Wilfried Houngbédji provided details on the costs of health insurance, the generalization phase of which will soon begin. Health insurance, one of the four integrated services of the Assurance pour le renforcement du...
Social protection and health insurance on the CIPB table
The Council of Private Investors in Benin (CIPB) in collaboration with the Benin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI Bénin) organized a round table on health insurance. Employers and employees took part in this conclave, which opened on November 5 in Cotonou....