In response to growing interest among middle-income countries in the WHO European Region to engage private health-care providers (PHPs) within publicly funded health systems, the WHO Barcelona Office for Health Systems Financing has developed this primer to support...
Financing intersectoral action for health: a systematic review of co-financing models
The research article by Finn McGuire, Lavanya Vijayasingham, Anna Vassall, Roy Small, Douglas Webb, Teresa Guthrie, and Michelle Remme published in the Journal of Globalization and Health explores how shared financing mechanisms can support collaborative efforts...
Protecting global health partnerships in the era of destructive nationalism
In an opinion piece published by PLOS Global Public Health, Adam et al. (2025) examine the growing threat that rising nationalism poses to global health partnerships. The authors—Maya Adam, Desiree LaBeaud, Nokwanele Mbewu, and colleagues—highlight how shifts in the...
The global landscape of country-level health technology assessment processes
The global landscape of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) processes is evolving as countries strive to implement evidence-based decision-making for healthcare services. This survey, covering 104 countries, offers an insightful analysis of the current state of HTA...

European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies report on investing in long-term care
'The Care Dividend' urges public investment in long-term care, showing its benefits for health, economies, and households as populations age. Published by the Observatory and Cambridge University Press. A book published by the European Observatory on Health Systems...

Turning nutrition pledges into action: World Bank course promotes nutrition-responsive budgeting
The World Bank promotes nutrition-responsive budgeting to turn commitments into action, recognising nutrition as a key social determinant of health. A free course offers tools to support this approach. Adequate nutrition is more than just access to food—it is a...
The care dividend: Why and how countries should invest in long-term care
Published by the World Health Organization’s European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and released by Cambridge University Press, The Care Dividend: Why and How Countries Should Invest in Long-Term Care presents a timely and evidence-based argument for...
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,...

Navigating donor shifts without sacrificing gender equity in health financing
As donor funding declines, gender equity risks being sidelined in health financing. FAH urges governments to adopt gender-responsive strategies to protect women’s health and achieve universal coverage. As global health systems adapt to decreasing donor support, a blog...
Using income-based caps to protect people from user charges for health care
User charges for health care—such as co-payments for doctor visits, hospital stays, or medicines—can create significant barriers to accessing necessary services, particularly for people with low incomes. To mitigate this, some countries in Europe have adopted...
The case for investing in a healthier future for the European Union
A new report by R-Health Consult, commissioned the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), highlights the significant health and economic benefits of investing in the prevention, early detection, and treatment of five major...
Quick buys for prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases
The research article "Quick Buys for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases" explores cost-effective interventions that can produce measurable health benefits within five years. Despite the proven effectiveness of the WHO Best Buys for tackling...

Strengthening health systems: South Africa leads G20 health agenda
The G20 Health Working Group met in South Africa to advance universal health coverage, sustainable financing, and NCD prevention. Leaders urged investment in resilient, inclusive healthcare systems. The 2nd G20 Health Working Group Meeting, held in KwaZulu-Natal,...

WHO-World Bank report highlights key challenges in health budget execution
A WHO-World Bank report highlights health budget execution challenges, revealing inefficiencies in spending. It calls for reforms to improve financial management and healthcare delivery for Universal Health Coverage. A new joint report by the World Health Organization...
Smart spending to combat global health threats
Global public goods for health, including prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) measures, are vital for safeguarding populations against future health threats. Yet the scale of investment in these areas remains inadequate and uneven, especially across income...