WHA78: Ministers call for country-led solutions amid health financing emergency
Global health leaders at WHA78 call for urgent country-led action to address health financing gaps and strengthen domestic data systems amid declining external support.At the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly on 21 May 2025, ministers from several countries...
Enhancing efficiency of healthcare financing
Achieving UHC requires a variety of financing strategies, including government revenue to support those unable to afford care. It involves coordinating these funding mechanisms to create a sustainable health system that serves the needs of all citizens, particularly...
The Unified Health System has 8 million affiliates
The public health insurance system in Bolivia, known as the Unified Health System (SUS), has reached 8 million members. Coverage is provided at all health levels, from primary to hospital care. In Bolivia there is the Unified Health System (SUS), the state program...
Nigeria’s FEC approves health financing policy through Medipool
The Federal Executive Council of Nigeria approved the establishment of Medipool, a purchasing organization designed to lower healthcare costs by negotiating competitive prices for essential medicines and healthcare products, thereby improving access to quality...
Handle With Care: Four Ways to Give Asia’s Health Systems a Needed Safety Upgrade
The pursuit of universal health coverage (UHC) in the Asia and Pacific region has often overlooked the crucial aspect of patient safety, resulting in significant issues such as high rates of hospital-acquired infections and medication errors. This neglect not only...
Economists explain how the NHI can work in South Africa
Economists express concerns about the viability of South Africa's National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, citing the government's struggle to secure funding and the potential dismantling of existing medical schemes, which are already under strain. Economists have...
Tanzania, Korea explore ways to make UHC work
Tanzania has partnered with Korea's KOICA to enhance its health sector through a knowledge-sharing initiative, focusing on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and technical assistance from Korea's Q-Deep program. The collaboration aims to develop a comprehensive...
Out-of-pocket spending still high in Morocco despite state efforts
Despite notable increases in public spending, Moroccan households continue to shoulder 38% of health costs—well above the WHO's 25% threshold for financial protection.A new report from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection reveals that out-of-pocket payments...
Advocates push to end benefit cuts for hospitalised New Zealanders
New Zealanders facing long hospital stays risk financial stress due to a policy that cuts benefits after 13 weeks. Advocates call for reforms to support patients' needs. Rising healthcare costs add to the burden, prompting a public petition for changes to ensure...
Italy strengthens health-care rights for homeless people
Homeless individuals in Italy face significant health challenges due to poor access to care. A new law enacted in November 2024 aims to improve their access to general practitioners, addressing health inequities and ensuring their right to health care, while also...
Revising SDG indicator 3.8.2: A new approach to measuring financial protection in health
SDG indicator 3.8.2 has been revised to better capture financial hardship from health costs, now measuring out-of-pocket spending over 40% of discretionary income to reflect poverty impact. SDG indicator 3.8.2 is designed to measure financial protection in health—an...
Belize Prime Minister announces nationwide Health Insurance rollout
The Prime Minister of Belize announces full National Health Insurance (NHI) rollout by the end of 2025. The NHI has been implemented in phases and now will reach the entire population with the goal of bringing affordable quality health care to all Belizeans.In May...
Vietnam charts path toward universal free healthcare by 2045
Vietnam's Health Ministry unveils a plan to eliminate healthcare fees, aiming for 100% insurance coverage and equitable access to services by 2045. Vietnam’s Ministry of Health has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to make universal, free healthcare a reality by 2045. In...
How are infectious diseases driving health inequalities in England?
The UKHSA report reveals significant health inequalities in England linked to infectious diseases and environmental health hazards, with those in deprived areas nearly twice as likely to be hospitalized compared to their more affluent counterparts. Moving forward,...
Healthcare financing in Singapore: Interview with DPM Gan and Health Minister Ong
Singapore’s healthcare system balances government subsidies, individual savings, and insurance to ensure affordability and discourage overuse, rather than offering free healthcare funded entirely by taxpayers. Rising costs prompt ongoing efforts to expand capacity,...