As noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) place increasing strain on health systems in low- and middle-income countries, the need for sustainable financing solutions is more urgent than ever. With development assistance stagnating and domestic budgets stretched thin,...
Navigating health financing cliffs: a new era in global health
In a Comment published in The Lancet, Kumanan Rasanathan, Maylene M Beltran, Alberta A Biritwum-Nyarko, Mark S Blechner, Mark Dybul, Hajime Inoue, and colleagues raise the alarm on the steep decline in development assistance for health and the deepening crisis it has...

G20 urged to back health taxes on harmful products to combat global rise in chronic disease
To tackle the global rise in non-communicable diseases, researchers urge the G20 to support stronger health taxes on harmful products like sugary drinks, tobacco, alcohol, and ultra-processed foods.By 2030, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cancer,...
Investing in health for a competitive, secure, and resilient Europe: A strategic call to action
A report by the EU Expert Advisory Group, convened by the Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience (PHSSR), outlines the case for greater strategic investment in health across the European Union. Titled Investing in health for a competitive, secure,...

WHA passes resolution to reform health financing for universal health coverage
The World Health Assembly has approved a Nigeria-led resolution urging stronger domestic health financing and reduced out-of-pocket costs to accelerate progress toward universal health coverage.The 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) has adopted a landmark resolution...
Global Health Watch 7: Mobilizing for health justice – Chapter D3, Financing Pandemic Recovery Prevention Preparedness and Response
A chapter in Global Health Watch 7, titled “Financing Pandemic Recovery, Prevention, Preparedness and Response”, critically examines current global health financing structures through the lens of pandemic cycles. Authored by the People’s Health Movement and Daraja...
Trends in the financialisation of outpatient care across OECD countries
This OECD study examines the growing role of financial actors—such as private equity, pension funds, and insurers—in outpatient health care across OECD countries. Drawing on responses from health ministries and system-level data, it highlights increasing concerns...
Tax systems and policy: Crucial for good health and good governance
The policy brief “Tax Systems and Policy: Crucial for Good Health and Good Governance”, published by the United Nations University International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH) in May 2025, reframes taxation as a central pillar of equitable and sustainable...

Revising SDG indicator 3.8.2: A new approach to measuring financial protection in health
SDG indicator 3.8.2 has been revised to better capture financial hardship from health costs, now measuring out-of-pocket spending over 40% of discretionary income to reflect poverty impact. SDG indicator 3.8.2 is designed to measure financial protection in health—an...
World report on social determinants of health equity
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its World Report on Social Determinants of Health Equity, shedding new light on the deep-rooted causes of health inequities across the globe. These inequities, often shaped by factors such as income inequality,...

Global health experts call for accountability in private sector influence
Experts at a UNU-IIGH symposium urged stronger regulation of private sector influence to protect public health and ensure equity in global health governance. The United Nations University International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH) and Third World Network...

HGPI highlights the role of data in advancing UHC and health financing
The HGPI report highlights the critical role of data in advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and health financing, emphasising the use of international databases for effective policy development and global comparison. The Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI)...

Health taxes could raise $2.1 trillion for low- and middle-income countries, IMF article argues
Higher taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks could raise $2.1 trillion for low- and middle-income countries while improving public health and reducing reliance on foreign aid, says the IMF.A new Finance & Development article by Masood Ahmed and Minouche...

Countries face sharp health financing cliffs amid dwindling aid, warns The Lancet article
Global health aid is declining, with over 3 billion people in debt-burdened countries. Nations like Nigeria and Thailand are adapting, but coordinated, sustainable solutions are urgently needed. The global health community is facing a critical juncture, as highlighted...

Official development assistance for health: an expected 40% reduction
Decisions by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) members to freeze or cut aid disrupt health services in low- and middle-income countries, risking a 40% drop in health aid by 2025 and worsening workforce...