This post was first published by the Center for Global Development on 19 November, 2024. Despite decades of global efforts, nutrition remains underprioritized, siloed, and poorly integrated within health systems and universal health coverage (UHC) efforts. This...
Health and social action sector policy letter 2025-2029 – Senegal
In 2025, Senegal's Ministry of Health and Social Action (MSAS) has developed a health sector policy letter in a participatory and inclusive manner, involving all key players in the sector, under the supervision of the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Cooperation...

German Chancellor Merz announces massive cuts to social welfare benefits
Germany expedites cuts to social welfare, pensions, and healthcare to cover military spending, deepening poverty for workers and pensioners while sparing the wealthy. Rising deficits fuel class tensions, prompting calls for socialist reorganization.Germany is moving...
Senegal Health Compact 2025 – Towards Universal Health Coverage
This document, published in 2025, materializes the moral, ethical and economic commitment between the government and its development partners, to effectively support the implementation of health and Universal Health Coverage policies.

Philippine healthcare: Families drowning in out-of-pocket expenses
Out-of-pocket health spending in the Philippines hit ₱615B in 2024, 42.7% of total healthcare costs, exposing families to debt as government schemes lag behind rising expenses. Experts urge reforms and new financing tools like sin taxes to ease the unsustainable...

Bulgarian drug procurement bill blocked, defying EU infringement process
Bulgaria faces EU sanctions as private hospitals, exempt from public procurement, overcharge for medicines. Reformers’ attempts to reintroduce tenders are blocked by political resistance and lobbying, costing the state millions annually and breaching EU rules.Since...

Belgian reform package targets excessive medical fees
Belgium’s summer agreement reforms healthcare by limiting excessive doctor surcharges, ensuring fair billing and equal reimbursements, curbing pharmaceutical overspending, and promoting sustainable care while preserving provider autonomy. This marks a historic step...

In 2025, the Cuban government allocates 24% of the general budget for health care
The Cuban government shows the importance of health, with 24% of the national budget in 2025 allocated to the sector. Of the health budget, 30% of spending is earmarked for the population over 60 years of age. In 2025, health remains a priority for the Cuban...

Multiyear presence of P4H-CFP adds to Cambodia’s progress towards UHC
P4H country focal person Niccolò Rotigliano supported Cambodia’s progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) between 2021 and 2024 through policy dialogue, topical analyses, tax reform studies, workshops and other efforts. He helped foster collaboration, inform...
Strategies for improving migrant health in Iran: a realist review
This realist review of 67 studies identified 27 strategies to enhance migrant health in Iran, focusing on trust-building through intersectoral governance, inclusive insurance to reduce financial barriers, cultural competency to improve accessibility, and community or...
Public Vs. Private Health Insurance in Germany
In Germany, every resident must have health insurance, choosing between public statutory insurance, which is income-based, covers essential care, and includes dependents at no extra cost, or private insurance, which offers modular plans with potentially faster access...

Shastha Chorcha Forum: Advancing Universal Health Coverage in Bangladesh
The second “Shastha Chorcha” by WHO Bangladesh gathered global and local health leaders to address challenges in achieving Universal Health Coverage. Emphasis was placed on innovation, leadership, community engagement, and collaboration for sustainable health...
Can people afford to pay for health care? New evidence on financial protection in Portugal
Portugal faces higher-than-average catastrophic health spending in Europe, primarily impacting the poorest households and driven by outpatient medicine costs. Despite universal access based on residence and a relatively comprehensive benefits package, coverage gaps...

Imagining health financing as a shared public-private investment
A new report urges G20 leaders to redefine health financing as a coordinated, strategic investment, leveraging both public and private sectors to build resilient, equitable health systems for all.At the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development...
National Health Policy and factors predicting its implementation at the local level in Nepal
This study assessed the implementation of Nepal’s National Health Policy at the local level, finding that health workers had moderate awareness, with main challenges including inadequate infrastructure, limited skilled professionals, and insufficient funding. Regular...
