A study analyzing data from German representative surveys found that 21% of participants reported forgone care in the past year, with higher rates in women and younger adults. The main barriers to accessing care were categorized as systemic, psychological, and...
Economic burden and determinants among hospitalized patients with epilepsy in Thailand
This study analyzes the direct medical costs of hospitalized epilepsy patients in Thailand. These costs are assessed from both a societal perspective—which includes hospital expenditures and payments made by health insurance schemes—and a patient perspective, which...

Out-of-pocket spending still high in Morocco despite state efforts
Despite notable increases in public spending, Moroccan households continue to shoulder 38% of health costs—well above the WHO's 25% threshold for financial protection.A new report from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection reveals that out-of-pocket payments...

Saving Australia’s universal healthcare system?
Australian healthcare is in a crisis where inadequate funding and a shortage of professionals have led to rising costs and difficulty accessing essential services. As the nation approaches elections, debates about the future of universal healthcare intensify,...

Guyana implements vouchers to extend financial access to UHC
Guyana institutes universal health care vouchers to cover a range of diagnostic tests not covered under the public free care program.Guyana operates a universal healthcare system where citizens and residents have access to public health facilities at no cost. However,...
Health insurance type, healthcare utilization and out-of-pocket expenditure in the face of COVID-19: Evidence from Thai national survey data
This study investigates whether the type of public health insurance affects outpatient healthcare utilization and out-of-pocket expenditure in Thailand before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings suggest that health insurance type primarily affects provider...

More Americans Can’t Afford Health Care, Prescriptions
A recent study reveals that over one-third of Americans, approximately 91 million people, cannot afford quality health care, with significantly higher rates among Black (46%) and Hispanic (52%) populations. Access to health care has remained stable for wealthier...

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...

Iran’s Escalating Drug Prices Push Cancer Patients to Desperation
The drastic increase in drug prices in Iran has left many cancer patients unable to afford essential treatments. Amidst growing public outcry, the Iranian regime prioritizes military and foreign interventions over addressing the healthcare crisis, exacerbating the...

High Medical Bills Pose Threat to China’s Economy and Consumer Spending
Globally, China’s rate of catastrophic health spending is among the highest, far exceeding the 13.2% average recorded in 2017. By comparison, Russia and Malaysia, two countries with similar per-capita GDP, reported rates of 7.7% and 1.5%, respectively.Across China,...

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...
The financial toxicity of cancer: unveiling global burden and risk factors – a systematic review and meta-analysis
Published in BMJ Global Health, this systematic review and meta-analysis examines the global prevalence of financial toxicity among patients with cancer, highlighting its significant burden on individuals and families. While previous studies have explored the...

Effective member coverage to be reached by 2025
For the year 2025, which has just begun, there are several challenges for the health system in the Dominican Republic, in order to achieve effective health coverage of the population affiliated to the Family Health Insurance. Among others, it will be necessary to...

Progress in universal health in the Americas
PAHO’s new report explores unmet healthcare needs, essential service coverage, and financial protection in the Americas. It examines access barriers, economic impacts, and policy gaps, highlighting primary health care's crucial role in advancing equitable, universal...
To what extent did households in developing countries forgo needed healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic? Repeated survey estimates from 25 countries in 2020 and 2021
The research article "To what extent did households in developing countries forgo needed healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic? Repeated survey estimates from 25 countries in 2020 and 2021," authored by Jakub Kakietek, Julia Dayton Eberwein, Amanda Kerr, and...