Australia has allocated an additional budget of $149 million for the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Scheme to ensure access to health services and reduce the burden of healthcare travel costs among people living in regional areas. The rebates will increase...
New article on the influence of the National Health Insurance scheme of the Lao PDR on healthcare access and catastrophic health expenditures is now available
Lao People’s Democratic Republic has implemented the National Health Insurance (NHI) since 2016. Recently, haemodialysis has been included under the benefit package of the NHI scheme. This study aims to analyze the effects of NHI on accessibility and catastrophic...
Health Insurance Fund reminded what services were free for children
The Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund (MHIF) of the Kyrgyz Republic reminded what free medical services children can receive at the outpatient level in polyclinics. The Fund noted that such information was relevant during the summer holidays for preventive purposes....
When “substandard” is the standard, who decides what is appropriate? Exploring healthcare provision in Cambodia
"Based on qualitative data collected in malaria and (para)typhoid fever projects, the authors describe falsified labortory test results, dubious diagnostic practices of both unlicensed and licensed doctors, the sales of substandard preparations and combinations of...
President Buhari says that 83 million poor Nigerians will benefit from the new health insurance scheme
President Muhammadu Buhari announced that, as recommended by the Lancet Nigeria Commission, a fund will be set up to ensure coverage of 83 million poor Nigerians (who cannot afford to pay premiums) in the new National Health Insurance Scheme . A statement issued by...
Health coverage and financial protection in Uganda: A political economy perspective
It has been over 20 years since Uganda abolished user-fees to improve access to health services and reduce the financial burden of accessing care. However, household out-of-pocket expenditures are still persistently very high contributing 42% of total health...
The costs of South Africa’s National Health Insurance are yet to be calculated, says Finance Minister
Finance minister Enoch Godongwana says the government has not updated the cost model of the proposed National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) since the 2019/2020 financial year. Responding in a written parliamentary question and answer session, Godongwana said this...
Triin Habicht_WHO_Health financing policies in Europe_English
Kazakhstan expanded screening programs for children in an effort to invest into prevention
Vyacheslav Dudnik, Vice Minister of Healthcare of Kazakhstan spoke at the Open Doors Event held by the Corporate Fund "University Medical Center" in capital city Nur-Sultan, dedicated to the International Children's Day on June 1. “The greatest happiness of parents is...
Somalia celebrates Universal Health Coverage day: translating the dream of ‘health for all’ into a reality
The 2021 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) day's theme was ‘Leaving no one’s health behind: Investing in health systems for all.’ This theme is relevant for countries worldwide, including Somalia, particularly after the secondary impacts of the COVID-19...
Adult diapers have been included under the UCS benefit package in Thailand
To reduce expenses of bed-ridden patients and their families, adult diapers or incontinence pads have been approved under the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) benefit package. The new benefit package provides three pieces of diapers per day per person and targets to...
The Malawi parliament’s cluster committee on Health, HIV and Aids, and Nutrition pushes for an increase in health budget to ensure adequate financing for Universal Health Coverage.
In the budget presented by the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Sosten Gwengwe at the parliament earlier in March this year, the health sector was allocated the third-highest sectoral allocation behind education and agriculture, which amounts to about US$349...
Health insurance engagement in Sierra Leone: Project memo
The International Growth Center (IGC) Sierra Leone has been heavily involved in working with the Directorate of Policy, Planning and Information (DPPI) at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation in providing technical input into the design of the insurance programme as...
Strategy for free healthcare services for pregnant and lactating women and young children in Sierra Leone
This strategy describes the implementation process of the free healthcare initiative as announced by the Sierra Leone President at the 2009 United Nations General assembly. The full document can be accessed using the link below
Report Launch & Panel Discussion: Accessing Health Benefits under the ESI Scheme: A Demand side perspective
Join us for the launch of the ILO Report, ‘Accessing Health Benefits Under the ESI Scheme: A Demand-side Perspective’, and a panel discussion on the views of the direct stakeholders of the ESI Scheme, on the incentives and obstacles that presently...