Estonia plans to merge health and social care systems for better coordination, but interest groups fear rushed reforms could disrupt services, especially for vulnerable groups. Critics warn unclear funding and added bureaucracy may reduce access and strain providers....
South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI) aims to advance Universal Health Coverage by addressing inequities between the well-resourced private sector and the underfunded public sector. While progress has been made, challenges persist, and WHO supports reforms to...
Czechia exhibits lower catastrophic health spending than many EU countries, but the poorest quintile and older adults still face high out-of-pocket costs, primarily for outpatient medicines. Gaps in coverage—limited co-payment protections, inadequate adult corrective...
Nigeria will host a National Health Financing Dialogue in September to tackle low health investment, with households paying 76% of costs. The forum will push NHIA Act implementation, insurance expansion, and innovative financing, aiming to cut out-of-pocket spending...
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...
The Accra Initiative, launched at the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit on 5 August, sets a new framework for global health, prioritising resilience, equity, and sustainable financing while advancing Africa’s leadership in health governance. African leaders and...
Estonia’s Health Insurance Fund faces a deepening crisis as reserves run out by 2027. Outgoing chief Rain Laane warns efficiency measures can’t close deficits, urging greater state investment. A four-year plan targets stronger primary care, funding reform, and better...
Vietnam has expanded health insurance to 94% of its population, with free care targeted by 2035. But out-of-pocket costs remain high at 40%. WHO’s Dr. Pratt stresses stronger financing, efficiency reforms, primary care, and innovation to achieve universal health...
Uganda’s health sector faces funding gaps after donor cuts, forcing higher out-of-pocket costs and disrupting HIV, TB, and maternal health services. Stakeholders urge domestic financing, innovative taxes, and a national insurance scheme to protect vulnerable groups...
This study examines the renewed push for a Universal Health Coverage (UHC) bill in Lebanon, analyzing its emergence on the policy agenda through Kingdon’s framework. Findings show that public pressure, a dedicated parliamentary committee, and political receptiveness...
South Africa’s G20 presidency prioritises Universal Health Coverage and civil society engagement, highlighting financing, primary health care, and multilateral collaboration amid global health funding challenges.The G20 presidency is placing Universal Health Coverage...
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan health officials met in Baku to discuss the 2025–2028 Action Plan under their MoU. Uzbekistan seeks to learn from Azerbaijan’s success with mandatory health insurance, with sessions covering healthcare costs, IT, HR, financing, and...
This study examined catastrophic health expenditures (CHEs) among low-income households in South Korea using machine learning methods on 2019 Korea Health Panel data. Results showed a 26.2% incidence of CHE, with AdaBoost performing best in prediction, highlighting...
At the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit, leaders led by Ghana’s President Mahama and ex-Nigerian president Obasanjo called for African-funded health systems, rejecting aid dependency. WHO’s Tedros urged health taxes, efficiency, and sovereignty to counter massive aid...
This study explored administrative stakeholders’ perspectives on Nigeria’s state-supported health insurance schemes (SSHIS) across six states. While the schemes improved health indices, infrastructure, equity, and financing, they face challenges including low...
