Saudi Arabia's King Salman has ordered coronavirus treatment to be available, free of charge, for all citizens and expatriates in need of medical care, including people who have overstayed their visas in the Kingdom. The government urged all of those showing symptoms...
Azerbaijan started producing domestic PCR tests for COVID-19 to save costs and expand access
Production of COVID-19 PCR test kits began in Azerbaijan this week by the Diamed Co. Syringe Manufacturing Plant, a local medical factory established as a joint venture between the state and private sector in 2019. The joint venture saw the launch of an all-new...
President proposed to reduce total individual tax burden from 34% to 25% for small businesses
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his annual address to the people of Kazakhstan has traditionally devoted his speach to social protection and human capital development, as well as education and health sectors. Among new ideas, he mentioned: "Total...
Belarus is changing its Constitution to enhance the right to free, state-funded access to medical care
Belarus is changing its Constitution. In March, the President of Belarus signed a decree on the creation of a Constitutional Commission of 36 people, which gave a start to practical work on changing the basic law of the country. Now, as of November 28, 2011, Head...
COVID-19 patients in Oman to be covered by insurance
The Capital Market Authority in Oman has launched an initiative to cover medical tests and treatment costs for COVID-19 infected insured members (nationals and expatriates) under their medical insurance coverage, according to a circular issued by the authority. The...
Free vaccination campaign launched for expats in North Al Sharqiyah governorate
Oman's Ministry of Health (MOH) launches free COVID-19 vaccination campaign for expats in North Al Sharqiyah Governorate for two days from November 1 to November 2, 2021. "The Directorate General of Health Services in North Al Sharqiyah Governorate is pleased to...
Oman’s health endowment fund’s remit transcends COVID-19 fight
In the week since it was rolled out, Oman’s first endowment fund dedicated to public healthcare services has garnered several millions of Omani riyals in contributions from government, public and private sector organisations, and growing numbers of individuals as...
Oman rolls out mandatory health insurance in private sector
Oman's Capital Market Authority (CMA) is currently drafting plans to introduce mandatory health insurance for all residents in the country after the Council of Ministers made recommendations to do so. “The decision aims at meeting the needs of the employees of the...
CSU au TCHAD: Promulgation of law n°026 creating the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAS)
On 31/12/2020, the Chadian National Assembly unanimously adopted the law creating the National Health Insurance Fund. This law was promulgated on the same day by the Head of State, the Marshal of Chad, Idriss Déby ITNO. Passage and promulgation of the...
Healthcare protection policies during the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons towards the implementation of the new Egyptian universal health insurance law
This paper investigates the effects of Egypt’s health system’s response to the COVID 19 pandemic on the recently ratified social health insurance law (2018). It also provides lessons from the management of the first phase of the pandemic, lessons that could be...
Purchasing health services under Egypt’s new universal health insurance law: What are the implications for universal health coverage?
This paper provides an assessment of the purchasing arrangements in Egypt as stipulated by the universal health insurance law and bylaw, their implications and contribution to progress towards universal health coverage (UHC). There needs to be more legal clarity in...
Implementing the universal health insurance law of Egypt: what are the key issues on strategic purchasing and its governance arrangements?
This document aims to inform the universal health insurance law implementation process in Egypt by anticipating the strengths and possible challenges as well as developing options to support a shift towards more strategic purchasing. It suggests that it would be...
Presenting documents on Egypt’s health system, social health protection laws and COVID 19 response
Two papers throw light on the provisions for strategic purchasing of health services in Egypt under the universal health insurance (UIH) law and highlight the requirement for more clarity on the subject for effective implementation (Egypt plans to progressively...
The Lebanese National Social Security Fund, explained
The National Social Security Fund was founded in 1963 under the (then joint) Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs via the Lebanese Social Security Law, with the aim of creating universal insurance. It is primarily funded by the contributions of private companies...
The Lebanese National Social Security Fund requests increased financing
The Lebanese National Social Security Fund (NSSF) serves a particularly important role in the wake of the current crisis engulfing the country, as medical bills have significantly inflated and even the most prominent hospitals are struggling to maintain their...