The P4H Network’s engagement with the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) includes the 11 countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine – and Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania and Mongolia.
Common to the countries of EECA is a legacy of socialist oriented and centrally planned economic systems with free health care and social services, as opposed to market-based ones. Under these systems, countries provided their citizens health care fully subsidized by state budgets. The state also subsidized social security and welfare systems.
Following the collapse of the former Soviet Union, countries in EECA began transitioning to a market economy, which resulted in fundamental changes to social health protection (SHP) and health financing (HF). Although these countries formally retain the concept of universal access, there is considerable variation in the health systems. Regional collaborations and engagement that the P4H Network facilitates broaden and deepen knowledge and learning exchanges among countries with a shared legacy of centrally planned social protection and health systems.
Collaborations and exchanges in EECA provide a concrete foundation for continuous learning and innovation. Country-based events and international conferences organized in the region provide a platform for exchanging knowledge and experiences in SHP and HF. For example, in 2018 the P4H Network supported the Health Financing Reforms for Universal Health Coverage Conference in Astana, Kazakhstan. The conference hosted a brainstorming exercise among experts. Kazakhstan drew guidance from Kazakhstan’s launch of its largest SHP reform programme. Similarly, the National Forum of Healthcare Leaders, also held in Astana in November 2022 and cohosted by the P4H Network, provided a discussion space for reflecting on the recently launched reform programme.
P4H knowledge sharing efforts in the region notably include a webinar series and a blog post series. In March and April 2022, the P4H Network hosted two webinars on SHP and HF reforms in five countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) — Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. P4H hosted the webinars in collaboration with the World Health Organization and International Labour Organization.
P4H Network members in EECA play an important role in the work of P4H. One of the region’s most active P4H members, Kazakhstan, currently represents Central Asia on the P4H Steering Group. In October 2019, the government of Kazakhstan hosted the 16th P4H Steering Group Meeting.
The P4H Network continues to support the EECA region with knowledge and learning activities, and the Leadership for UHC (L4UHC) programme. As part of this support, one of the L4UHC modules was organized in Kazakhstan.
