Malaysia announced it had established a US$2.4 million compensation fund to provide cash assistance for any COVID-19 vaccine recipients who suffer severe reactions due to inoculations. Under the new fund, individuals requiring extended hospitalisation due to a...
Rohingya refugees and local Bangladeshis benefit from inclusive COVID-19 response
At the beginning of 2021, the Bangladesh government began the rollout of a national COVID-19 vaccination plan, with the first vaccinations taking place in the capital at the end of January. Over the next month, more than three million Bangladeshis received their first...
Additional Fund Approved by the Cabinet to Acquire COVID-19 Vaccine
The 'Thai' Cabinet has approved an additional fund of 6,387.29 million baht from the central fund of the 2021 national expenditure to acquire 35 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca, so that the people of Thailand will have access to the vaccine. Out of...
Indonesia approves free COVID-19 vaccine drive by private companies
The Indonesian government said it would allow private companies to run coronavirus vaccination programs for workers and families alongside a nationwide drive to expedite efforts in achieving herd immunity. “The companies will provide the vaccines for free for...
Universal Coverage Scheme: 10 outstanding accomplishments in 2020
The National Health Security Office (NHSO), Thai government’s independent agency overseeing Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) despite the COVID 19 crisis initiated new health programs, health system response and social innovations that strengthen health system in...
Hungary Reaches 3 Million Vaccinations, Reopening Continues?
Hungary has now reached 3 million vaccinations against the coronavirus, and despite infections and deaths remaining high, talks of further reopening are underway. The United Kingdom is also continuing its reopening, but its conditions appear much safer than the...
Mass testing for COVID-19 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: “One door-one test” approach
In response to the recent increase of COVID 19, the Mongolian government initiated a mass testing campaign, the so-called “One door-one test” (ODOT), which utilised PCR assays to test one family member (age>18) from each of the 420,000 households in the capital...
Over $ 1.1 bn to Extend Australia’s Covid 19 Health Response
The Australian Government invests more than $1.1 billion to extend their successful national COVID-19 health response and suppression strategy until 31 December 2021. This $1.1 billion is in addition to more than $22 billion spent in these areas to date,...
Budget 2021: Rs 18Bn to be allocated for Maintaining Health Services
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa announced a boost to the public health sector in light of the extended needs demanded by the COVID-19 Pandemic. He allocated an additional Rs. 18bn for expansion of health facilities to tackle COVID-19 and resultant health...
How Japan’s Universal Health Care System led to COVID 19 Success
Japan has seen very low mortality rates due to COVID 19 despite a rapidly ageing population owing to universal health insurance, a uniform fee schedule and a no-gatekeeping system. The combination ensures affordable access to health services for everyone...
The Government of Mongolia aims to vaccinate 60 percent of its population by July 2021
Globally, countries are taking action to vaccinate the appropriate size of the population to fight against coronavirus disease as quickly as possible. Mongolia is no exception from the COVID-19 vaccination target. According to the press release from the...
Vietnam’s new regulations on fees for quarantine, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19
http://news.chinhphu.vn/Home/New-regulations-on-fees-for-quarantine-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-COVID19/20212/42952.vgp
Indian households spent more on food, less on healthcare during first lockdown due to COVID-19
Since June 2020, various studies have suggested that the onset of COVID-19 pandemic in India caused severe disruptions to the food supply chain, large levels of unemployment, an increase in vulnerabilities for migrant workers, and gendered violence at home, among...
Firm commitments to eliminate obstetric fistula by 2030
In order to eliminate obstetric fistula by 2030 in West and Central Africa, several First Ladies of Africa are committed to mobilizing more resources and strengthening their support for the fight against this scourge at the high-level round table on the...
Rich nations vaccinating one person every second while Somalia receives doses for less than 2% of population
24th March 2021: Somali NGOs warmly welcome the first batch of COVID19 vaccines this week from COVAX and warn that Somalia is facing critical shortages of oxygen and medical supplies to cope with the rising COVID-19 cases. With current vaccine doses less than 2% of...