This paper analyzes how cost-sharing impacts the use of outpatient and inpatient health services in China. The study reveals that increased cost-sharing for outpatient services leads to decreased outpatient usage while simultaneously increasing reliance on inpatient...
The Czech government is considering merging health insurance funds to enhance efficiency and address financial challenges within the public healthcare system, but stakeholders warn that this approach may not resolve deeper structural issues, such as ongoing deficits...
The study evaluates the operations and performance of Private Health Insurance Schemes (PHIS) in Ghana, highlighting their diverse benefit packages and flexible payment structures that enhance healthcare access and quality. It emphasizes the need for PHIS to establish...
Nigeria faces severe public healthcare challenges, with over 90% of the population relying on out-of-pocket payments, leading to substantial financial hardship and high rates of preventable illnesses and deaths. Despite the establishment of the National Health...
Previously under the Ministry of Finance a new line item - Social Assistance Benefits - is added to the 2024-2025 health budget in the Bahamas. This strengthens the momentum toward the National Health Insurance and moves closer to the implementation of catastrophic...
The Indian government is developing a social security scheme for gig workers, which will require them to contribute 1% to 2% of their daily earnings and provide benefits like provident funds and pensions. This initiative aims to support the growing gig workforce by...
On June 29, 2024, the Vietnamese National Assembly passed the Law on Social Insurance, significantly amending the previous law to expand participation, enhance worker benefits, and address implementation challenges. The amended Health Insurance Law aims to improve...
Argentina has health care professionals of recognized high quality, operating within a complex health care system. How can we ensure that the designated resources and member contributions are used efficiently and equitably? In the region, Argentina is recognized for...
The health sector in Paraguay is a priority in the 2025 national budget. Almost one third of the allocation for health is earmarked for medicines. This contributes to the protection against catastrophic expenditures, as medicines can be one of the causes. The nation's...
The primary social health insurance schemes in China, UEMIS and URRMS, mainly cover non-inpatient expenditures, neglecting costs associated with outpatient care and medications. A study found that over 60% of participants used non-inpatient services recently, with...
On January 14, 2025, the Peruvian Government made official the publication of Supreme Decree Nº 001-2025-TR, eliminating the waiting period for pregnant women. Thus, it establishes that pregnant women affiliated to the EsSalud social security system have immediate...
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...
Japan controls health care costs with a fee schedule setting prices and billing conditions. The fee schedule is revised biennially to align with policy goals. Annual price cuts for pharmaceuticals and devices create fiscal space for priority areas. This approach could...
Governments in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are increasingly considering national health insurance schemes (NHIS) to achieve universal health coverage (UHC). This article examines the political economy surrounding the establishment of Zambia's NHIS in 2018,...
South Korea's healthcare expenditure rose significantly from $45.6 billion in 2011 to $76.9 billion in 2020, accounting for 9.3% of GDP. Despite universal health coverage, out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses remain high, particularly for women and the elderly. Public...
