Published by the World Health Organization’s European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and released by Cambridge University Press, The Care Dividend: Why and How Countries Should Invest in Long-Term Care presents a timely and evidence-based argument for...

Why So Many Cambodians Travel Abroad For Medical Care
The author highlights the challenges and misdiagnoses faced in the Cambodian healthcare system that push many to seek medical treatment abroad. It underscores the rising trend of medical tourism due to inadequate domestic options, the financial burden of healthcare,...
Forecasting total and cause-specific health expenditures for 116 health conditions in Norway, 2022–2050
This study forecasts an increase in Norway's health spending from 10.6% of GDP in 2022 to 14.3% by 2050, driven primarily by population growth, aging, and rising costs per case. While the overall expenditure growth is inevitable, improving resource allocation and...

Malaysia’s healthcare system a ticking bomb
Malaysia's healthcare system is facing significant challenges due to a growing non-communicable disease epidemic, an ageing population, chronic underfunding, and a demoralised workforce, all of which threaten the quality and accessibility of care. Malaysia's...

Webinar: How does population ageing affect health system financial sustainability and affordable access to health care?
The WHO Barcelona Office for Health Systems Financing is hosting a webinar on 19 March 2025, from 10:00 to 11:30 CET, to explore how population ageing affects health system financial sustainability.The WHO Barcelona Office for Health Systems Financing is hosting a...
Projected costs of long-term care for older people in England: The impacts of housing quality improvements
Good quality housing is crucial for public health, yet its economic implications for long-term care have not been extensively studied. This research analyzes how housing improvements can affect future long-term care costs in England, utilizing data from the English...
Long-Term care in ageing populations
Sarah L. Barber, Paul Ong, and Zee A. Han explore the complexities of long-term care (LTC) in ageing populations in their latest contribution to the Handbook of Global Health, published online by Springer on February 5, 2025. This chapter examines the evolving...
Catastrophic health expenditure associated with non-inpatient costs among middle-aged and older individuals in China
The primary social health insurance schemes in China, UEMIS and URRMS, mainly cover non-inpatient expenditures, neglecting costs associated with outpatient care and medications. A study found that over 60% of participants used non-inpatient services recently, with...
Determinants of out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines among adults in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study
This study examined out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures on medications among adults in Saudi Arabia using data from the 2018 Family Health Survey. The average OOP expenditure was estimated at 279.69 Saudi Riyals. Key determinants of OOP spending included age, household...

Hospital reforms in place in Germany
Germany's hospital reform aims to improve financial stability and ensure high-quality inpatient care across the country. Set to be implemented in stages starting January 1, 2025, the reform focuses on meeting patients' needs while reducing bureaucratic burdens and...
Tackling the Impact of Cancer on Health, the Economy and Society: Poland
Cancer remains a major public health challenge in Poland, accounting for one in four premature deaths and leading to an estimated 38,400 premature cancer-related fatalities annually. Future cancer health expenditure is expected to rise significantly due to an aging...

Building an economy for well-being: A seminar with Dr. Ritu Sadana
Dr Ritu Sadana, WHO Head of Ageing and Health, will discuss building an economy centred on well-being at an LSE seminar on 26 November 2024. The event will explore aligning economic, social, and health goals to prioritise people and planet over profits.The London...

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...

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...
Long-term care financing: lessons for low- and middle-income settings: brief 10
The World Health Organization Centre for Health Development's tenth brief on long-term care financing explores a crucial aspect of caregiving in low- and middle-income settings: the role of informal caregivers. As the backbone of long-term care (LTC) systems, informal...