Saudi Arabia explores prospect of scrapping insurance approvals for health services
Saudi Arabia is considering eliminating health insurance approvals to reduce delays for beneficiaries, though concerns about rising healthcare costs remain. The Saudi Insurance Authority reported over 400,000 complaints in 2024, and plans to publish performance...
Two P4H-CFPs present at the seventh AfHEA
The African Health Economics and Policy Association (AfHEA) organized its seventh biennial Scientific Conference from 10 through 14 March 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda. Serge Mayaka and Virgile Pace, both multicountry assignment team experts and P4H country focal persons...
Colombia and Peru collaborate on webinar on health financing reforms for UHC
The region of Latin America and the Caribbean is increasingly active in the P4H Network. P4H’s academic members in the region are collaborating on an upcoming webinar on the challenges of financing universal health coverage, using the cases of Colombia and Peru.Two...
‘No plans’ to allow private health cover of GP care
Australia does not plan to create a two-tier healthcare system by bringing in private insurers for GP care. The Health Minister shuts down all calls for letting private insurers cover GP care.Calls to lift the ban on private health insurers subsidizing GP visits have...
Ireland’s opportunity to lead: Expanding universal access to primary health care
Ireland has a strong opportunity to lead in health reform by expanding universal primary care. With public support and affordable costs, the country is well-positioned to ensure care for all. Ireland has a unique opportunity to transform its health system and join its...
Transformation fund decided – Lauterbach: Hospital reform takes important hurdle
The Federal Council has approved a legal ordinance to set up a 50 billion euros transformation fund, which supports the modernization of hospital structures.Funding for hospital reform will be available for 10 years starting in 2026, contingent upon federal states...
Strengthening health systems: South Africa leads G20 health agenda
The G20 Health Working Group met in South Africa to advance universal health coverage, sustainable financing, and NCD prevention. Leaders urged investment in resilient, inclusive healthcare systems. The 2nd G20 Health Working Group Meeting, held in KwaZulu-Natal,...
Cabinet meeting: major advances for the health of all Burkinabes
The Minister of Health, Dr Robert Kargougou, chaired a meeting on key reforms: a monthly payment for free care and a digital platform for licenses. These initiatives aim to improve payment regularity and access to healthcare in Burkina Faso. The Minister of Health, Dr...
Ecuador experiences high growth in medical costs
According to the WTW Global Medical Trends Survey 2025, Ecuador is among the six Latin American countries where medical costs have grown the fastest this past year. Going to a doctor's appointment, buying medicines or taking out health insurance will be more expensive...
Why has NHS England been abolished and what does it mean for patients?
As announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, National Health Service (NHS) England is being abolished and merged with the Department of Health and Social Care to reduce bureaucracy. This restructuring aims to enhance efficiency, although it may result in job losses...
Rethinking Sustainable Health Financing in Africa: From Dependence to Partnership
The Africa Health Agenda, emphasized at the AHAIC 2025 conference, highlights the urgent need for African nations to shift towards proactive health strategies and sustainable, locally-led financing in response to declining external support and rising health...
Five years after Covid lockdown, former Swiss health advisor looks back on crisis
Daniel Koch, former head of communicable diseases at the Federal Office of Public Health, recalls the key role played by the Swiss government during the Covid-19 crisis, five years after a lockdown was first declared in Switzerland.In January 2020, government...
Forgone care: The blindspot of our health system
UHC is a crucial goal for India and is supported by the Ayushman Bharat initiatives to enhance primary care and health insurance. Despite progress, significant barriers continue to result in forgone care, particularly among vulnerable populations.Universal health...
Malaysia to develop basic health insurance, takaful products for more sustainable medical treatment access
Bank Negara Malaysia is collaborating with the Ministry of Health and the Employees Provident Fund to develop basic health insurance and takaful products focused on value-based healthcare, aiming to reform the national health sector and manage rising medical...
WHO-World Bank report highlights key challenges in health budget execution
A WHO-World Bank report highlights health budget execution challenges, revealing inefficiencies in spending. It calls for reforms to improve financial management and healthcare delivery for Universal Health Coverage. A new joint report by the World Health Organization...