This paper examines the evolution and effectiveness of the safety net over the past half-century in USA. It finds that while some programs have contracted, the safety net has overall grown substantially stronger through expansions that have significantly reduced...
Primary health care financing: a situation assessment and policy options for Tajikistan
Tajikistan’s primary health care, based on a family medicine model, faces low per-capita funding, outdated financing, and persistent informal payments. To strengthen it, the country should pilot per-capita payment systems, update the benefits package for better...

How Japan could shape the future of the NHS
To help deal with its ageing population, Japan offers super bespoke health programmes for individual citizens, which aim to do a better job at predicting and preventing illnesses and make emergency care less necessary.The Health Secretary is taking a bold step forward...

Price increases at clinics fuel Korea’s health insurance expenditure growth
A report by the Korea Development Institute reveals that rising health insurance spending in Korea is primarily driven by increasing prices at clinics and outpatient services, leading to concerns about the system's sustainability. A recent report from the Korea...
Dominica Macro-Fiscal Context and Health Financing Factsheet
Macro-Fiscal Context and Health Financing Factsheets developed by the World Bank provide graphical representations of 14 key indicators linked to the larger macro fiscal environment in which a health system operates. This fact sheet on Dominica shows historical data...

The Wait Is the Price: Quiet Rationing Plagues Canadian Health Care
The Canadian healthcare system, while publicly funded and perceived as free, involves significant wait times for medical services due to a mismatch between demand and supply, effectively rationing care. This inadequacy leads to substantial economic costs, estimated in...

HGPI highlights the role of data in advancing UHC and health financing
The HGPI report highlights the critical role of data in advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and health financing, emphasising the use of international databases for effective policy development and global comparison. The Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI)...

Countries face sharp health financing cliffs amid dwindling aid, warns The Lancet article
Global health aid is declining, with over 3 billion people in debt-burdened countries. Nations like Nigeria and Thailand are adapting, but coordinated, sustainable solutions are urgently needed. The global health community is facing a critical juncture, as highlighted...

Webinar on health financing reforms in LAC, using examples of Peru and Colombia
The webinar announced in the March Governance Newsletter took place on 11 April 2025. This event, which focused on the challenges of financing universal health coverage in Colombia and Peru, was the result of a collaboration between two of the P4H Network’s academic...

New Zealanders prioritise health, but costs hold many back
New Zealand is experiencing a rise in health screening engagement, with 72% of adults prioritizing check-ups, although affordability remains a significant barrier for 36% of the population. Medical inflation has surged to 14.5%, impacting access to preventative care,...
Analysis the status and spatio-temporal characteristics of the synergistic development of China’s multi-level medical insurance system
The study examines the development and spatio-temporal evolution of China's multi-level medical insurance system (MMIS) from 2011 to 2020, highlighting improvements in the coupling coordination index (CCI) which rose from a moderate disorder to a well-coordinated...

Egypt on right track to build universal health insurance system to its people
The French Development Agency (AFD) has applauded Egypt's progress in its universal health insurance system, which now serves nearly 5 million beneficiaries across six governorates, highlighting significant improvements in care quality and healthcare governance. Since...

Austrian Medical Chamber Unveils Ten-Point Plan for ÖGK Reform
The Austrian Medical Chamber has proposed a ten-point reform plan to address the ÖGK’s significant financial challenges, emphasizing the need to improve healthcare services rather than cutting them, as projected deficits exceed one billion euros. The Austrian Medical...
Government purchase of private health services in the Eastern Mediterranean region: opportunities and challenges for stewarding towards a universal health coverage focus
As countries across the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) increasingly rely on private providers to deliver health services, governments face growing pressure to ensure these purchasing arrangements align with Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals. This article,...

Renewing New Zealand’s Primary Care System
The report "The Heart of Healthcare: Renewing New Zealand's Primary Care System" highlights the economic benefits of investing in general practice, showing potential cost savings and improved patient care compared to emergency department visits.The report "The Heart...