Despite government efforts to control health expenditures in India, households in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district face substantial out-of-pocket expenses (OOPE) for medical care, forcing them to rely on hardship financing through borrowing and asset sales. This...
New data shows 3.2% of EU children missed medical care in 2024, rising to 4.2% among poorer families. Finland leads with highest unmet needs; Malta and Croatia have the lowest rates. New Eurostat data reveals that while most children in Europe receive necessary...
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) represent a growing share of global health expenditure, yet comparable data across countries remain scarce. Understanding how costs vary by disease phase, sex, and age group is critical for anticipating future health system needs and...
This report, The Role of Healthcare in Reducing Inequalities and Poverty in the EU, published by the European Commission, explores how public healthcare can alleviate social and economic disparities across EU Member States. Chapter 2 examines household-level...
Households caring for differently abled children often face unique financial and social challenges, with healthcare costs being one of the most significant burdens. The study Catastrophic health expenditure among households with differently abled children and...
Italy experiences higher catastrophic health spending than many EU countries, predominantly affecting low-income, southern-region, and pensioner-headed households, driven by outpatient medicines and care for poorer groups and dental care for wealthier ones....
Universal health coverage (UHC) is central to ensuring equitable access to health and social care services, yet significant unmet needs remain across regions, particularly among older populations. While global monitoring indicators track progress toward UHC, they...
This study examines healthcare access and the factors contributing to unmet needs among migrants in Phuket Province, Thailand. The findings reveal that unmet needs are primarily linked to undocumented status, financial barriers, and language difficulties. Employment...
In their recent Viewpoint published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, authors Jose Marco Antonio II, Stephanie Wang, Frederic Ivan L. Ting, Jeremiah R. Vallente, Edward Christopher Dee, and Erin Jay G. Feliciano examine the pressing issue of financial...
This survey on the health status and healthcare use of the over-18s (ESRS) is the fruit of collaboration between Belgian and Beninese universities in 2024. The survey report provides a detailed and representative picture of the health, economic and social situation of...
This study assessed the annual out-of-pocket (OOP) costs of cancer care for patients in Bangladesh, their coping mechanisms, and the financial distress they experienced. Using data from three hospitals, researchers estimated an average annual OOP cost of US$ 6,504 per...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
