Rare diseases in Hainan Province pose a significant economic burden, with a rising prevalence and limited data available. A study from 2019 to 2023 found that 83.01% of the 4,975 diagnosed patients were insured, yet total economic costs escalated from 34.26 million...

Renewing New Zealand’s Primary Care System
The report "The Heart of Healthcare: Renewing New Zealand's Primary Care System" highlights the economic benefits of investing in general practice, showing potential cost savings and improved patient care compared to emergency department visits.The report "The Heart...

Ministry of Health and Stakeholders Discuss Financial Sustainability of Liberia’s Healthcare System
The Ministry of Health in Liberia has launched a workshop to assess the financial sustainability of the health system, focusing on the Liberia Health Equity Fund and the Liberia Social Health Insurance Scheme, with insights from various stakeholders on the need for...

What Kenya should do to address healthcare funding challenges
The recent suspension of US foreign assistance poses a significant threat to Kenya's health sector, jeopardizing access to vital services. However, this challenge also presents an opportunity for Kenya to enhance its healthcare resilience.The recent suspension of...

Labour’s 10-year plan for the NHS in England: what should it look like?
The NHS is facing significant pressures, prompting the new government to develop a 10-year reform plan aimed at enhancing its future viability. While previous long-term plans have shown mixed implementation results influenced by political and financial contexts, this...

Committee established to develop Universal Health Coverage roadmap in Saint Lucia
In 2022, Saint Lucia’s government took steps to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by creating a professional committee to determine strategic directions.With the aim of improving health systems and ensuring affordable, quality health care in Saint Lucia, in 2022...

Cabinet approves universal health cover policy in Namibia
The cabinet has approved a universal health coverage policy to ensure all Namibians can access healthcare services without financial hardship. This initiative aligns with the country's Vision 2030 and aims to address existing challenges in healthcare access,...
Healthcare systems and health economics in GCC countries: informing decision-makers from the perspective of the Gulf health economics association
The discovery of oil has enabled GCC countries to provide universal healthcare to their citizens, but rising healthcare demands pose challenges in financing these systems effectively. Experts in health economics from the Gulf Health Economics Association held a focus...

Social Insurance Coverage for Informal Sector Workers in Viet Nam
Vietnam's voluntary social insurance program has significantly expanded over 30 years, reaching 2.311 million participants, but to meet the 2030 target of 60% coverage, further reforms are needed. The World Bank is collaborating with Vietnam Social Security to enhance...

Strengthening health systems: South Africa leads G20 health agenda
The G20 Health Working Group met in South Africa to advance universal health coverage, sustainable financing, and NCD prevention. Leaders urged investment in resilient, inclusive healthcare systems. The 2nd G20 Health Working Group Meeting, held in KwaZulu-Natal,...

Cabinet meeting: major advances for the health of all Burkinabes
The Minister of Health, Dr Robert Kargougou, chaired a meeting on key reforms: a monthly payment for free care and a digital platform for licenses. These initiatives aim to improve payment regularity and access to healthcare in Burkina Faso. The Minister of Health, Dr...

Rethinking Sustainable Health Financing in Africa: From Dependence to Partnership
The Africa Health Agenda, emphasized at the AHAIC 2025 conference, highlights the urgent need for African nations to shift towards proactive health strategies and sustainable, locally-led financing in response to declining external support and rising health...
Informal employment and high burden of out-of-pocket healthcare payments among older workers: evidence from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India
India's economy features a significant informal workforce that often struggles with low wages and inadequate healthcare benefits, leading many older workers to continue working past retirement age to cover their medical costs. This study found that informal older...

Forgone care: The blindspot of our health system
UHC is a crucial goal for India and is supported by the Ayushman Bharat initiatives to enhance primary care and health insurance. Despite progress, significant barriers continue to result in forgone care, particularly among vulnerable populations.Universal health...

Financing of the Colombian Health System during a period of reform
Colombia's healthcare system is still in the process of reform. The Ministry of Health indicates that the amounts granted to the capitation payment units in recent years have not been sufficient. It calls for clarification of payment modalities to EPSs for the coming...
