An additional RM 2 Billion allocation is needed for the National Covid-19 Immunization Programme (NCIP) due to increased costs to procure the Covid-19 vaccine and the costs to administer the programme. Programme coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that taking...
The Department of Labor and Employment said COVID-19 has been included in the list of occupational and work-related diseases. This means workers who were infected by the virus could receive compensation via the Employees' Compensation Commission (ECC) provided they...
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) is preparing to roll out assistance to people who have suffered side effects from Covid-19 vaccines. While vaccines could help decrease the number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals and ease the burden on the...
The Cabinet has approved a THB3.75-billion fund for National Health Security Office (NHSO) health units to combat the Covid-19 emergency as part of the government’s THB1-trillion package to fight the pandemic. It will cover the cost of Covid-19 services in hospitals...
Health insurance premiums are expected to grow 1.59 percent this year amid worries over the Covid-19 outbreak says the Thai Insurance Commission with total premiums expected to rise to Bt101 billion in 2021, compared to Bt99 billion last year. Uncertainty over...
Three loan agreements were submitted to the National Assembly for ratification, representing a total of 39,901,000,000 FCFA. This funding will help mitigate the socio-economic effects of the pandemic in Burkina Faso, strengthen the capacity for prevention, detection...
Written by Eunkyoung Kim and Tomas Roubal The Republic of Korea (ROK) has been regarded as one of successful countries in their response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As of 28 April 2021, ROK has reported 120,673 cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,821...
The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare structural weaknesses in the domestic public health systems in place in the US and EU member states. In the US the debate and implementation on Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (‘Obamacare’) will undoubtedly continue. In...
It is expected that countries allocate a vaccine indemnification fund for procuring COVID-19 vaccine form the COVAX facility that essentially gives indemnity to vaccine makers if their COVID-19 shots cause adverse side-effects but more importantly secures...
Prior to the pandemic, several African countries were in the process of extending their universal health coverage (UHC) provisions. The pandemic has not called into question the CSU's objective; on the contrary, the crisis could be seen as a strong argument for...
The World Bank has agreed to provide $500 million to Bangladesh in additional financing to buy Covid-19 vaccines. The main objective of the WB's additional financing for this project is -- vaccination of 31 percent of the total population of the country through...
The Indonesian government recently received approval for a USD 450M loan from the Asian Development Bank to its domestic vaccine supplier PT Bio Farma to boost the country’s COVID-19 vaccine procurement which is under considerable stress owing to global...
Nepal has largely been dependent on its neighbours India and China for its supply of COVID-19 vaccines both purchased and received as donations as the two countries’ attempt to use vaccine diplomacy to strengthen their influence on the small Himalayan...
The world's COVID-19 response has been unsettling especially regarding people living in informal settlements, migrants, refugees, and other ultra-vulnerable populations. It reiterates serious concerns about health inequality, as well as people lacking human rights and...
The emergence of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) pandemic provides unique challenges for the health system. In this paper, the authors used economic underpinnings to explain several of these challenges and suggest a way forward for health policy, during, and...
