G20 health ministers commit to strengthening health systems amid climate change
G20 Health Ministers emphasise the need for sustainable, intersectoral financing to address climate change’s health impacts, promote climate-resilient health systems, and advance the One Health approach. At the 2024 G20 Health Ministerial in Rio, leaders emphasized...
Growing cost of Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system calls for financial sustainability
KPMG's market study, “Understanding healthcare financing in Saudi Arabia,” examines the Kingdom's healthcare financing structure and the trends influencing expenditure patterns. Saudi Arabia's healthcare spending surged from SAR 22.8 billion in 2007 to nearly SAR 80...
Guinea: Transition adopts financing agreements for health security
On May 24, 2024, the National Transition Council adopted two financing agreements for the Health Security Program in West and Central Africa. The agreements had been signed in January between the Republic of Guinea and the International Bank for Reconstruction and...
Workshop on the impact of climate change on health financing and CSU in Cameroon
The recent floods affecting certain regions of Cameroon have prompted the authorities to look into the issue of climate change and social protection in health. To this end, and in partnership with GIZ, the Ministry of Health is organizing a workshop on November 14 and...
Qatar health care industry introduces policy updates
Qatar has significantly strengthened its healthcare system in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to a more robust reputation for health service delivery. As of May 2024, the country successfully administered approximately 7.6 million vaccine doses,...
Why prioritise rare diseases?
At the 2024 World Health Summit, Rare Diseases International hosted a side event on prioritising rare diseases in global health policy. Key takeaways: integration into health systems, addressing wider impacts, and political will. At the 2024 World Health Summit in...
Oman: New Social Security Law a step in the right direction
Oman recently introduced a new social protection law that aims to establish a universal social security system, according to Human Rights Watch. This law is poised to enhance the socioeconomic rights of Omani nationals and residents, particularly migrant workers...
Qatar Affirms Commitment to Promote, Protect Elderly Rights
The State of Qatar reiterated its dedication to promoting and protecting the rights of the elderly during the 12th session of the United Nations Open-ended Working Group on Ageing. Najat Daham Al-Abdullah, Director of the Family Affairs Department at the Ministry of...
Norwegian government boosts funding for hospitals in 2025 to reduce waiting times
The Norwegian government reports it is increasing funding for the hospital sector in the state budget for 2025 by NOK 5.5 billion compared to 2024. The closest comparable increase took plance in 2008. The proposal will help hospitals to cover the increase in costs as...
Moldova ratified a €36,2 mln loan from the World Bank to improve access to rehabilitation care
Moldova will receive a €36.2 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). The authorities will spend this money on improving the quality and increasing the availability of rehabilitation services in public medical institutions in...
World Bank releases reports highlighting critical challenges in health expenditure
World Bank reports reveal health spending declines in low-income nations, risking SDG targets. Calls for increased, efficient investments to secure global health goals. The World Bank has unveiled two crucial reports on health spending trends as countries strive to...
Armenia is postponing universal health insurance introduction due to insufficient funding
The introduction of Universal Health Insurance (UHI) in Armenia is not going to happen in 2025. On November 1, 2024, Armenian Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan said in the Parliament the draft state budget of Armenia for 2025 does not contain funding for UHI...
New mechanism for the purchase of medicines and medical supplies in Mexico
This new contracting model will improve efficiency, transparency and the supply of medicines and supplies needed in the health sector.The President of the Republic emphasized that the New Model of Consolidated Procurement of Medicines and Medical Supplies in Mexico...
ECLAC and PAHO call for prioritization of health investment in Latin America and the Caribbean
The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) called on the countries of the region not to postpone investments in health. The publication highlights the...
Albanian public expenditure on health in 2025 is planned to be 5% higher than in 2024
The draft budget for 2025, presented by the Health and Social Protection Minister of Albania, is 5% higher for 2025, reaching 103 billion and 375 million ALL. The budget for the Ministry of Health will comprise 9.8% of the general expenses.In 2025, the Ministry of...