A study identified 128 institutions in Germany providing healthcare to uninsured individuals. The care offered was varied and often reliant on private donations, with specialties including general medicine, gynecology, and psychiatry, but overall access was uneven and...
Determinants of out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines among adults in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study
This study examined out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures on medications among adults in Saudi Arabia using data from the 2018 Family Health Survey. The average OOP expenditure was estimated at 279.69 Saudi Riyals. Key determinants of OOP spending included age, household...
WHO and the Ministry of Health of North Macedonia assessed barriers to care in rural areas
WHO and the Ministry of Health of North Macedonia published a report that assessed barriers to care in North Macedonia, focusing in rural areas and small urban settlements. In the overview of the report, WHO stated: This study, conducted in North Macedonia, explored...
Rwanda’s Single Project Implementation Unit: An Effective Donor Coordination Platform in the Journey to Achieving Universal Health Coverage
After the 1994 Genocide, Rwanda focused on rebuilding its health system with global aid. However, coordination issues led to inefficiencies. The 2011 formation of the Single Project Implementation Unit aimed to enhance planning for universal health coverage, but...
Staying the Course: Reflections on the Progress and Challenges of the UHC Law in the Philippines
The Philippine UHC law, enacted in 2019, aims to enhance equitable access to quality health services by reforming the PhilHealth and supporting local government units through a Special Health Fund. Despite facing implementation challenges, the initiative highlights...

Free childbirth a reality in Gabon
Since August 2024, Gabon has been offering free deliveries in public hospitals. The aim is to end, if not limit, maternal and infant mortality. However, there are still grey areas and challenges to be met. Only from the sixth month of pregnancy will women be covered,...

PMNCH Dialogue: Improving financing to reduce mortality of women and children
Join PMNCH's virtual dialogue on 10 Dec 2024, focusing on financing to reduce mortality and improve health for women, children, and adolescents, featuring experts and innovative investment strategies. The third instalment of PMNCH’s Ready, Set, Implement Dialogue...
Socioeconomic Inequalities in Out-of-Pocket and Catastrophic Health Expenditures in Pakistan
In Pakistan, healthcare utilization is linked to out-of-pocket payments (OOP) which disproportionately affect low-income households. The study investigated socioeconomic inequality in OOP and catastrophic health expenditures (CHEs), and the contribution of...
The 2022 restructure of Aotearoa New Zealand’s health system
Aotearoa New Zealand has restructured its health system with the aim of addressing inequities in access to healthcare services and health outcomes, particularly among the indigenous Māori population. In July 2022, two new organizations, Health New Zealand and Māori...

Free medical care a reality in Guinea
Reproductive and child health services are now accessible thanks to the Health Services and Capacity Building Project (PRSCS). This World Bank-funded project has increased the number of births attended by skilled health personnel by a factor of more than ten. At the...

Targeted free healthcare for the needy in Matoto
Out of 81 cases examined by the Technical Department for Indigence and Health Infrastructures, 41 are now benefiting from free health care. In Matoto, one of the twelve communes that make up the city of Conakry, the Indigence Fund has handed out vouchers. According to...
The impact of the health microinsurance on the utilization of health services among migrant workers
Despite the implementation of public health insurance schemes for migrant workers in Thailand, coverage gap exists within this population. The M-FUND is a low-cost, not-for-profit health protection scheme designed specifically for migrant workers in Thailand,...

Comoros: Generalized health insurance by 2030
Comoros plans to introduce health insurance by 2030. According to the government, the first test phase is about to begin. For the moment, 52,000 households have been identified, are in the process of enrolling and will soon receive health insurance cards. Comoros is...

Lebanon: the health sector in the grip of the economic crisis
The economic crisis, which has plunged a large part of the population into poverty, has also had a devastating impact on the healthcare sector. Hospitals are underfunded, medicines are in short supply, and access to healthcare has become a major challenge for many...

Mauritania: 10,000 health insurance cards distributed
The Caisse nationale de solidarité sanitaire (CNASS) continues to expand throughout the country. On November 5, the municipality of Arafat launched the distribution of 10,000 health insurance cards to vulnerable groups. The mayor of the Arafat commune, Mr. Mohamed...