This law of the Dominican Republic, enacted in May 2001, establishes the foundations of its social security system, including health. It establishes a universal and mandatory system, articulating public and private health institutions dedicated to social security and...

Private hospitals dominate Ayushman Bharat utilisation despite government majority
Despite most Ayushman Bharat hospitals being government-run, over half of treatments and two-thirds of costs occur in private hospitals. Since 2018, 9 crore treatments worth Rs 1.29 lakh crore have been provided. The scheme’s digital mission has linked 50 crore health...
Piecing the Puzzle: Addressing the Multi-Payer and Fragmented Health Financing System in the Philippines
Over the past decade, government health spending in the Philippines has grown rapidly, supported by expanded fiscal space, stronger health policies, and rising national income. Despite this progress, the health financing system remains fragmented, with overlapping...

Irish health budget to provide for 3,300 extra staff
A record €27.4bn health budget for 2026 will fund more staff, hospital beds, home support hours and digital health reforms. Critics say it falls short on capacity and staffing. €3.8bn is allocated to disability services, including residential places, home supports and...

Building Universal Health Coverage: Northeast Health Financing Forum Spurs Cross-State Collaboration and Reform
The Health Financing Forum held in Dimapur united policymakers and experts from Northeast India to discuss reforms and cross-state learning in healthcare financing. Led by Nagaland and the World Bank, the event emphasized innovation, collaboration, and financial...

Modernizing Kazakhstan’s Social Health Insurance: Impact and Innovation
Kazakhstan is modernizing its compulsory social health insurance system to improve financial sustainability, expand care for low-income citizens, and enhance service quality. Reforms include infrastructure upgrades, digital tools, and streamlined processes to ensure...

Togo Expands Universal Health Insurance to Self-Employed Workers
Togo expands Universal Health Insurance to self-employed and informal workers, enabling thousands previously excluded to access health coverage through flexible payments, covering care for up to six dependents, and boosting financial inclusion via a new digital...

Record Rise in Dutch Health and Social Care Spending Reaches €155 Billion in 2024
Dutch health and social care spending rose 8.9% in 2024 to 155 billion euros, increasing to 13.8% of GDP. Per capita costs reached 8,610 euros, up 654 euros from 2023, driven by higher charges, increased youth care demand, and faster growth of home assistance. In...
Estimates of non-communicable disease expenditure by disease phase, sex, and age group for all OECD countries
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) represent a growing share of global health expenditure, yet comparable data across countries remain scarce. Understanding how costs vary by disease phase, sex, and age group is critical for anticipating future health system needs and...

Budget 2026: Breaking the Cycle—Malaysia’s Path to Resilient and Inclusive Public Healthcare Reform
Malaysia’s public healthcare is plagued by understaffing, low morale, overcrowding, and stagnant reform. Budget 2026 plans to absorb contract doctors, boost spending, strengthen public-private partnerships, roll out tech-driven workforce mapping, and build inclusive...

Making universal healthcare work in Philippines
In 2024, the Philippine government swept P60B in idle PhilHealth funds to the Treasury, triggering controversy and a Supreme Court halt on further transfers. The President pledged to restore the funds in 2026, but experts warn cash alone won’t fix service delivery or...
Unlocking value: a comprehensive costing study of primary health care service delivery in Tanzania
Tanzania’s government significantly increased primary health care (PHC) spending between 2021/22 and 2022/23, raising per capita expenditure and spending per outpatient visit. Despite this progress, current PHC spending remains well below global standards and the...

NHS Continuing Healthcare: deepening inequality and the ‘Postcode Lottery’ in access to vital care across England
NHS Continuing Healthcare in England is marked by stark regional inequalities, with eligibility and funding varying dramatically by postcode. Despite rising demand and spending, fewer people are deemed eligible, and inconsistent processes mean many miss out on vital...
Regional action framework for health financing to achieve universal health coverage and sustainable development in the Western Pacific
Universal health coverage (UHC) aims to ensure equitable access to quality health services without financial hardship, requiring adequate and sustainable public financing. In the WHO Western Pacific Region, economic growth has improved public health spending, yet many...

Malaysian think tank renews call for health and social insurance, removal of sugar subsidies
The Galen Centre urges a national health and social insurance scheme with employer-employee contributions, removal of sugar subsidies, and scrapping of outpatient/specialist charges at public facilities to better fund health, aged care, and combat diabetes. The Galen...
