Czechia exhibits lower catastrophic health spending than many EU countries, but the poorest quintile and older adults still face high out-of-pocket costs, primarily for outpatient medicines. Gaps in coverage—limited co-payment protections, inadequate adult corrective...
Zimbabwe plans to launch its National Health Insurance (NHI) in June 2026 to expand universal health coverage, funded through earmarked taxes. With only 13% covered by medical aid, the NHI will target the uninsured majority, aiming to cut out-of-pocket costs and...
Nigeria will host a National Health Financing Dialogue in September to tackle low health investment, with households paying 76% of costs. The forum will push NHIA Act implementation, insurance expansion, and innovative financing, aiming to cut out-of-pocket spending...
This document complements the timeline of Germany’s social health protection (SHP) reforms from 1883 to 2025 on the Germany country page. It provides key dates of German SHP acts and, for each of them, a snapshot explanation, extracted from a selected source.
Estonia’s Health Insurance Fund faces a deepening crisis as reserves run out by 2027. Outgoing chief Rain Laane warns efficiency measures can’t close deficits, urging greater state investment. A four-year plan targets stronger primary care, funding reform, and better...
India’s flagship health insurance scheme, PM-JAY, is under strain as 650 Haryana hospitals suspend services over ₹490 crore unpaid dues, cutting off 18 million people. In J&K, limited hospitals and delayed payments worsen access gaps. Patients face debt, delays,...
Vietnam has expanded health insurance to 94% of its population, with free care targeted by 2035. But out-of-pocket costs remain high at 40%. WHO’s Dr. Pratt stresses stronger financing, efficiency reforms, primary care, and innovation to achieve universal health...
Vietnam’s Decree 188 keeps health insurance contributions at 4.5% of the basic salary, with scaled discounts for additional family members. The scheme covers 80% of medical costs, offering access to 2,400 drugs and 9,000 services, including treatment for cancer, heart...
Estonia’s Health Insurance Fund faces a deficit, rising healthcare costs, and criticism after lavish spending exposed governance gaps. Experts and officials urge reforms to improve efficiency, avoid worsening inequalities, and ensure sustainable financing without...
Uganda’s health sector faces funding gaps after donor cuts, forcing higher out-of-pocket costs and disrupting HIV, TB, and maternal health services. Stakeholders urge domestic financing, innovative taxes, and a national insurance scheme to protect vulnerable groups...
Moldova’s health insurance revenues rose 11.6% in the first seven months of 2025, driven by salary-based contributions reaching 5.4 bn lei. Spending also increased, with higher transfers for services and surgeries. The 2025 budget is projected to grow 13%, exceeding...
The government has de-empanelled 1,114 hospitals, fined 1,504 ₹122 crore, and suspended 549 for fraud under Ayushman Bharat. A strong anti-fraud system, grievance redressal mechanism, and stricter claims settlement timelines aim to protect beneficiaries and improve...
This study explored the contextual factors affecting Iran’s basic universal health insurance program for Afghan refugees using the PESTEL framework. Through interviews with 22 stakeholders, researchers identified 61 factors across six main themes: political, economic,...
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan health officials met in Baku to discuss the 2025–2028 Action Plan under their MoU. Uzbekistan seeks to learn from Azerbaijan’s success with mandatory health insurance, with sessions covering healthcare costs, IT, HR, financing, and...
This study examined catastrophic health expenditures (CHEs) among low-income households in South Korea using machine learning methods on 2019 Korea Health Panel data. Results showed a 26.2% incidence of CHE, with AdaBoost performing best in prediction, highlighting...
