ThinkWell Pakistan has recently published a series of insightful fact sheets exploring how public health facilities in Pakistan procure and finance essential medicines and health supplies (EMHS), along with the bottlenecks they face at each step of the process....

Medical care in Honduras is confirmed to be free of charge in public services
Free medical care in Honduran public facilities is confirmed by the Ministry of Health. It also points out that there is an ongoing process of revision of texts to facilitate their application and transparency. In December 2024, the Honduran Ministry of Health...
Ministry of Public Health of Uruguay, Decree n. 287/2012.
In 2012, Uruguay's Ministry of Health issued a decree updating the categories of free care administered by the National Health Fund (FONSA). Certain vulnerable groups and beneficiaries affiliated by quota to the state health services administration (ASSE) can receive...

WHO launches plan for free child cancer medicines in Nepal
WHO has launched a platform to provide free cancer medicines to children in low- and middle-income countries, aiming to improve survival rates. The initiative, supported by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, plans to benefit around 5,000 children this year and...

PhilHealth urges hospitals to support ‘no balance billing’ policy
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is urging private hospitals to support its No Balance Billing (NBB) policy, which provides equitable healthcare access for patients without out-of-pocket expenses. Hospital leaders emphasize their commitment to...

Ministry of Health and Stakeholders Discuss Financial Sustainability of Liberia’s Healthcare System
The Ministry of Health in Liberia has launched a workshop to assess the financial sustainability of the health system, focusing on the Liberia Health Equity Fund and the Liberia Social Health Insurance Scheme, with insights from various stakeholders on the need for...

Indians are quitting the safety net of health insurance; GST and high premiums are only part of the problem
In India, rising health insurance premiums and increased claim rejections are driving individuals to opt out of policies. Many feel overcharged and frustrated with inadequate coverage, exacerbated by taxes on premiums, leading to distrust in insurers and a search for...

Bulgaria’s new policy: Free medication for children to combat health disparities
Bulgaria's parliament has approved free medication for children under seven, aiming to reduce hospitalisations and financial strain. Experts also call for free flu vaccinations to further improve child health. The Bulgarian parliament has approved a new law providing...

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...

State Life builds digital, service capacity to expand universal health benefits to entire Pakistan
The State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan (SLIC) is committed to providing universal health insurance coverage to 180 million citizens. By offering comprehensive health services and integrating performance-linked funding, SLIC aims to enhance healthcare access...

Countries in the Americas establish network to strengthen national health fund management
Countries in the Americas launched REFSA to strengthen cooperation on managing national health funds, with PAHO’s support, aiming for more efficient, transparent, and equitable health systems. Representatives from national health funds in Brazil, Chile, Colombia,...
The catastrophic cost of TB care: Understanding costs incurred by individuals undergoing TB care in LMICs, MICs, HICs
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health challenge, not only because of its health burden but also due to the significant financial hardships it imposes on patients and their families. This systematic review, conducted by Olivia Alise D’Silva and colleagues,...

Cabinet approves universal health cover policy in Namibia
The cabinet has approved a universal health coverage policy to ensure all Namibians can access healthcare services without financial hardship. This initiative aligns with the country's Vision 2030 and aims to address existing challenges in healthcare access,...
Supreme Decree approving regulations for Law No. 29698 on rare diseases.
On March 27, 2025, the Peruvian government enacted Supreme Decree No. 002-2025- SA. This approved regulations for Law No. 29698, a law that declares the treatment of people suffering from rare or orphan diseases to be of national interest and preferential attention....

New Uruguayan government analyzing changes in health financing
The undersecretary of the MSP of Uruguay reported that the government is analyzing changes in the financing of Fonasa and the calculation of capita. He also stressed the need to evaluate the economic and healthcare management of health institutions. In January 2025,...