The many documents available on the P4H Network’s digital platform reflect the network’s scope of work. The majority of documents are primary source materials created by country nationals or resources produced by organizations working in social health protection (SHP) and/or health financing (HF).
The collection provides information on SHP and/or HF reforms and universal health coverage processes from around the world as well as topical analysis and research.
Lived experience of out-of-pocket costs of health care and medicines by people with chronic conditions and their families in Australia: a systematic review of the qualitative literature
Despite Australia’s Medicare, out-of-pocket costs (OOPC) still make up 14% of total health expenditure. This systematic review examined the experiences of Australians with chronic conditions facing OOPC for out-of-hospital care, revealing income loss due to ill...
Consumer choice and control within a highly regulated, market-based system in Australia
Australia’s long-term care system operates within a tightly regulated, market-based framework that emphasises consumer choice and control. In this country report, published by the WHO Centre for Health Development, authors Sarah Wise, Michael Woods, and Kees van Gool...
Medicare austerity reforms and patient out-of-pocket costs: The experience from Australian cancer patients
This paper analyzes trends in provider fees, government spending on private out-of-hospital medical services, and out-of-pocket costs for cancer patients following policy changes aimed at reducing government expenditure. It highlights significant variations in...
Australia’s health expenditure 2021–2022
This report provides the overview of Australia's health expenditure 2021–2022. It was the third year (and the second full year) of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. During 2021-2022, governments funded around 72.9% of total health spending. In addition, the ratio of...
Comparative policy analysis of national rare disease funding policies: a scoping review
Rare diseases are conditions with low prevalence in the population. Their rarity combined with the high cost of treatment present unique challenges for healthcare policy and funding. This scoping review aimed to compare the funding approaches for rare disease...
Out-of-pocket expenditure, need, utilisation, and private health insurance in the Australian healthcare system
This study investigates if the burden of out-of-pocket expenditure differs between individuals with and without private health insurance (PHI) and whether chronic conditions or hospitalisation increase this difference in Australia.Findings indicate that PHI is...
Out-of-pocket fees for health care in Australia: implications for equity
Despite the presence of universal health care in Australia, out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses remains a concern, particularly among vulnerable groups, including socio-economically disadvantaged people and older Australians with high healthcare needs. This article examines...
Challenges for Medicare and universal health care in Australia since 2000
This review aims to identify the financing and policy challenges for Medicare and universal health care in Australia, as well as opportunities for whole-of-system strengthening.More than 70 articles were identified and classified challenges into seven major themes...