In Singapore, the most apparent cost of this epidemic is the cost of providing direct medical care and public health services such as screening tests and ICU (intensive care unit) care for those affected. Since the indirect and intangible losses are not easy to...
Sri Lanka launches the COVID–19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund
The Government of Sri Lanka set up ‘COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund’ on 23rd March 2020, to strengthen the activities aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19 virus in the country and to support the related social welfare programmes in...
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...
The Philippines to Suspend Social Security and Healthcare Premium Hikes for 2021
The Philippines House of Representatives passed House Bill’s No. 8461 and 8512 which authorizes the President to suspend the premium contribution hikes for social security programs. The contribution rate for the SSS was supposed to increase from the current 12...
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,...
A look at the Philippine health sector during and after Covid-19
The health system in the Philippines has two major defining public health safeguards- the Philippine Health Security Corporation known as PhilHealth and the Universal Health Care Law passed in February 2019 that now extends PhilHealth to all Filipinos. While...
Resolution of the Vietnamese Government on purchase and use of Covid-19 vaccines
Government of Vietnam takes primary responsibility for financing Covid-19 vaccination from State Budget
https://p4h.world/index.php/en/node/10617 The Prime Minister Decision No.21 stipulates the State Budget shall ensure the funding of the Covid-19 vaccination, following the principle of decentralization of State budget.
Budget 2020-21: Record health and aged care investment under Australia’s COVID-19 pandemic plan
The (Australian) Government is delivering a record $115.5 billion in 2020–21 and $467 billion over the forward estimates to deliver the essential health services Australians need under the Long Term National Health Plan. (The) Government has committed more...
Nepal focuses on health spending to fight COVID-19 in annual budget
The Parliament of Nepal saw a substantial increase in the share of budget expenditure on health in FY 2021, significant compared to other South Asian countries. The country saw increased spending in health infrastructure to primarily combat the onslaught of the Corona...
Urgency to transform fragmented health system (UHC Act and Covid-19)
The Philippines has seen relatively more challenges due to the Covid-19 Pandemic than perhaps its other South-east Asian counterparts. Despite the crafting of the historic Universal Health Care (UHC) Law over two years ago, the Pandemic has exposed several gaps in...
Budget 2021: S$4.8b of S$11b Covid-19 Resilience Package for public health
The Singapore Government's commitment to safeguarding public health and the future of its citizens especially in the wake of COVID 19 can be seen in the over 40% share of this year’s Budget that goes to the COVID-19 Resilience Package. Mr. Heng Swee Keat, the...
Domestic expenditure increases a 33% in 2020 due to Covid
The Budget Execution Report, released on February 15th, shows a relevant increase in domestic expenditure in health in Mozambique, from 18.985 million MT (263 M$) to 25.318 million MT (351 M$), a +33% change. This prioritization of health with domestic...
Universal health coverage and COVID-19 preparedness and response in Asia and the Pacific
Authors: Soonman KWON and Eunkyoung KIM Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has disrupted all aspects of our global society and economies and progress towards universal health coverage (UHC), further worsening structural fragilities and deepening inequalities (1)....
Webinar: Assessing health financing systems with the Health Financing Progress Matrix: a focus on country implementation
Until recently, there was no standard assessment of a country’s health financing system, in terms of the alignment of institutions and policies with good practice. WHO’s newly developed Health Financing Progress Matrix fills this gap. The HFPM is both an...