Tajikistan’s health system offers a publicly financed basic benefits package, but many individuals remain ineligible for coverage. Most healthcare services are publicly managed by the government. Initiatives like 'Health for All' and the 'Universal Health Coverage'...

Barbados celebrates UHC day 2024
On UHC day in December 2024, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean nations reconfirm their commitment to access for their population to quality health services, without financial hardship. Achieving this goal is a particular challenge for small island developing states,...
The current situation of health equity in underserved areas of Afghanistan
Providing universal health coverage (UHC) in Afghanistan faces challenges due to the country's geographic topography and gender dynamics. A significant number of primary healthcare facilities are unevenly distributed, leaving nearly 25% of the population underserved,...

Achieving social justice through inclusive social health protection
The ILO and Mahidol University are hosting a special event on 6 February 2025 to mark the World Day of Social Justice. The event will highlight the importance of universal social health protection in advancing social justice.To commemorate the World Day of Social...

Indonesia strengthens health expenditure tracking to advance universal health coverage
Indonesia is enhancing health expenditure tracking to improve resource allocation and accelerate progress toward universal health coverage (UHC). Supported by WHO, the Ministry of Health is adopting advanced tools to refine spending analysis and strengthen health...

WHO webinar on key findings of the Global Health Expenditure Report 2024
WHO has updated the Global Health Expenditure Database (GHED) for over 190 Member States and is hosting a Webinar on February 4, 2025, to discuss the key findings of the 2024 Global Health Expenditure Report launched in December 2024. The World Health Organization...
Socio-economic factors in healthcare allocation: Insights from Italy’s 2023 NHS reform
The article "The Role of Socio-Economic Determinants in the Interregional Allocation of Healthcare Resources: Some Insights from the 2023 Reform in the Italian NHS" by Roberto Fantozzi, Stefania Gabriele, and Alberto Zanardi, published in the Journal of Health Policy,...

Paris to host 11th IRDES-LIRAES workshop on applied health economics and policy evaluation
The 11th IRDES-LIRAES Workshop on Applied Health Economics and Policy Evaluation will be held in Paris on June 16-17, 2025. Experts will discuss healthcare equity, financing, and policy evaluation. The event includes presentations, discussions, and networking....

Containing costs and nudging doctors and hospitals towards policy goals in Japan
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...
Equity in healthcare financing: A review of evidence
The research paper "Equity in Healthcare Financing: A Review of Evidence", authored by Emilia Luyten and Sandy Tubeuf and published in the Journal of Health Policy (2024), examines the redistributive effects of various healthcare financing mechanisms on income...

PhilHealth benefits now cover outpatient emergency services
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has introduced the Outpatient Emergency Care Benefit (OECB) package, effective January 1, following PhilHealth Circular No. 2024-0033. This initiative allows coverage for emergency procedures and services for patients...
South Korea’s healthcare expenditure: a comprehensive study of public and private spending across health conditions, demographics, and payer types (2011–2020)
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...
Health Systems in Action Insights – Uzbekistan
Key Points Uzbekistan's health system currently provides a basic set of publicly financed health services, but it does not cover all essential services or medicines. The Ministry of Health oversees the organization and management of the largely public health services,...

Minister of Health of Belarus welcomed Belarusbank’s investment into renewal of ambulance vehicles in rural areas and small towns
Belarusbank and the Ministry of Health have signed an agreement to launch a new social initiative titled "Affordable Medical Care with Belarusbank." This project aims to modernize the fleet of medical vehicles serving healthcare institutions in rural areas and small...

Assessment on Reimbursement of Expensive Medicines in Netherlands: Study Highlights Public Opinion on Coverage Lock Policy
Amsterdam, January 8, 2025 – A new study published in PLOS ONE offers critical insights into public opinion regarding the reimbursement of expensive medicines in the Netherlands. The research, led by Féline E. V. Scheijmans and her team from Utrecht University,...