At TICAD in Japan, UHC took center stage as Africa’s young, fast-growing population underscores the need for stronger health systems. Despite funding gaps and persistent risks, the World Bank and partners aim to expand access, boost resilience, and create jobs, with...
Marking 25 years, Bhutan’s Health Trust Fund reaffirmed its role in financing free healthcare, having ensured Nu. 3.7B for drugs and vaccines. Despite sustainability challenges, it targets innovation, digital tools, and wider investments to secure resilience and...
Tajikistan’s UHC pilot in Sughd is testing health financing reforms to cut out-of-pocket costs, pool budgets, and expand primary care access. Backed by WHO, EU, and UHC-P, the initiative aims to reduce inequities, strengthen services, and lay the foundation for...
This study explored the contextual factors affecting Iran’s basic universal health insurance program for Afghan refugees using the PESTEL framework. Through interviews with 22 stakeholders, researchers identified 61 factors across six main themes: political, economic,...
Liberia’s Health Ministry trained seven counties on financial management under the PBF Program to boost accountability and service delivery. Officials stressed sustainability as donor funding declines, with the World Bank-backed training seen as vital for...
This study analyzed the financing system for communicable disease (CD) management in Afghanistan through qualitative research using interpretative phenomenological analysis with 49 health system experts. It identified 12 strengths, 16 weaknesses, 9 opportunities, 21...
Syria’s healthcare system is struggling to rebuild after 14 years of war with massive infrastructure damage, healthcare worker shortages, and political divisions. Violence, especially in Druze-majority Sweida, worsens humanitarian access and security, complicating...
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...
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...
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...
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
