This study assessed health insurance coverage across six WHO Southeast Asia Region countries using Demographic and Health Survey data from 2015–2022. Coverage varied widely, with Indonesia showing the highest levels and Bangladesh and Myanmar the lowest, while...

Morocco Overhauls Health Insurance System with New Unified Structure
Morocco has passed major reforms to unify its basic health insurance system under the National Social Security Fund (CNSS), aiming to improve efficiency, transparency, and access to healthcare as part of King Mohammed VI’s broader vision for universal social...

Indonesia makes impressive progress towards Universal Health Coverage within 10 Years
Indonesia makes impressive progress towards universal health coverage in just 10 years, covering over 98 percent of its population through the Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN) Program, thanks to strong government commitment and collaboration among stakeholders. Badan...

Proposed inclusion of new benefits in Uruguay
Uruguay's Minister of Public Health is proposing the inclusion of new benefits in the National Resources Fund basket. These include medical equipment and medicines for heart disease and cancer treatments. In June 2025, the Minister of Public Health, Cristina...

Transforming South Africa’s healthcare: the National Health Insurance Act’s promise of equity for all
South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI) Act aims to create a unified, fair, and affordable healthcare system that provides equal access to quality care for all citizens, regardless of income or location. This transformative reform addresses current inequalities...
An evaluation of the impacts of health insurance coverage on wealth stratification in some selected sub-Saharan countries
This study examined the impact of health insurance policies on household wealth distribution in four sub-Saharan African countries—Burundi, Gabon, Ghana, and Rwanda—that have achieved healthcare coverage above 20% in pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals....
Lived experience of out-of-pocket costs of health care and medicines by people with chronic conditions and their families in Australia: a systematic review of the qualitative literature
Despite Australia’s Medicare, out-of-pocket costs (OOPC) still make up 14% of total health expenditure. This systematic review examined the experiences of Australians with chronic conditions facing OOPC for out-of-hospital care, revealing income loss due to ill...

New WHO/Europe report identifies coverage policy options to improve financial protection in Malta
Nearly 7% of Maltese households face catastrophic health spending. To improve financial protection, Malta should expand means-tested schemes, reduce medicine prices, address waiting times, and broaden publicly funded dental services. A new WHO report, “Can people...

Sustainability of Costa Rica’s Health Insurance at risk
An audit of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) indicates that the state's debt continues to increase over time. The sustainability of health insurance depends on the timely recovery of amounts owed in a timely manner. The report (January 2025) of the internal...
Automatic Health Insurance Enrollment for Vulnerable Individuals: Opportunities for Egypt’s Universal Health Insurance System
This note offers insights on how Egypt can move forward to achieve automatic UHIS coverage for vulnerable groups. Automatic enrollment would help eliminate barriers to UHIS coverage, get rid of long queues for applicants, decrease the administrative burden on...

Nation’s Healing Promise: Tanzania’s Bold Push Towards Universal Health Insurance
Tanzania’s Universal Health Insurance Act, 2023, aims to provide mandatory health coverage for all citizens, addressing low insurance rates and high out-of-pocket costs. Success hinges on trust, political will, and inclusive financing to ensure equitable, accessible...

Parliament approves historic GH¢10 billion for NHIA to revolutionise Ghana’s healthcare
Ghana’s Parliament has approved a record GH¢10 billion for the National Health Insurance Authority in 2025, significantly expanding funding for claims, operations, and chronic disease care, including dialysis under the NHIS. This major investment aims to improve...

Rare diseases in France: a subject taken very seriously
France's 7000 rare diseases affect more than 3 million people. France is a pioneer in Europe in implementing a national plan for rare diseases. They are reimbursed up to 100% by the French Assurance Maladie. [ba_gradient_heading title="What is a rare disease?"...

Nigeria seeks deeper health ties with Brazil, unveils bold agenda for Universal Health Coverage
The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to Universal Health Coverage by deepening strategic health sector cooperation with Brazil, focusing on local pharmaceutical production, digital health, and workforce development, while drawing lessons...

Vietnam enacts new social insurance law effective 1 July
Vietnam’s new Social Insurance Law, effective 1 July, restricts lump-sum payouts to workers who meet specific conditions such as serious illness, emigration, or insufficient contribution years at retirement age, aiming to encourage long-term participation in the...
