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...

Malaysia to develop basic health insurance, takaful products for more sustainable medical treatment access
Bank Negara Malaysia is collaborating with the Ministry of Health and the Employees Provident Fund to develop basic health insurance and takaful products focused on value-based healthcare, aiming to reform the national health sector and manage rising medical...

Iran’s Escalating Drug Prices Push Cancer Patients to Desperation
The drastic increase in drug prices in Iran has left many cancer patients unable to afford essential treatments. Amidst growing public outcry, the Iranian regime prioritizes military and foreign interventions over addressing the healthcare crisis, exacerbating the...
Breaking Barriers to Universal Health Coverage: Insights from Georgia’s Chronic Disease Medicine Program
Despite global advances toward Universal Health Coverage, financial protection remains a challenge in low- and middle-income countries, with out-of-pocket pharmaceutical costs driving poverty and inequality in Georgia. The study found that while Georgia’s Chronic...

High Medical Bills Pose Threat to China’s Economy and Consumer Spending
Globally, China’s rate of catastrophic health spending is among the highest, far exceeding the 13.2% average recorded in 2017. By comparison, Russia and Malaysia, two countries with similar per-capita GDP, reported rates of 7.7% and 1.5%, respectively.Across China,...

Pathways to solving Nigeria’s out-of-pocket healthcare emergency crisis
Nigeria faces severe public healthcare challenges, with over 90% of the population relying on out-of-pocket payments, leading to substantial financial hardship and high rates of preventable illnesses and deaths. Despite the establishment of the National Health...

Global health financing must prioritise gender equity to achieve universal coverage
Amref Health Africa’s blog emphasises the need for gender-responsive health financing to achieve universal coverage, showcasing global examples of successful models and highlighting the upcoming AHAIC 2025. Ensuring gender equity in health financing is crucial for...
What contributes to out-of-pocket health expenditure in Cambodia’s uncovered population?
Out-of-pocket health expenditures (OOPE) in Cambodia significantly contribute to financial hardship for households engaged in informal employment, with healthcare factors being the largest drivers of these costs. The study suggests that the Cambodian government should...

Social security for gig workers: to be included in PMJAY
The Indian government is developing a social security scheme for gig workers, which will require them to contribute 1% to 2% of their daily earnings and provide benefits like provident funds and pensions. This initiative aims to support the growing gig workforce by...

Center For Global Development on 26 vulnerable countries that the US aid cut affects
US global health aid cuts threaten 26 fiscally strained countries, risking essential health services. Other funders must act fast to bridge the gap, ensuring sustainable, shock-resistant health financing. Recent cuts to US global health aid are creating a funding...
Effect of universal health insurance implementation on beneficiaries’ evaluation of public health facilities in Egypt – a cross-sectional study
The study assessed the early impact of Egypt’s Universal Health Insurance (UHI) system, introduced in 2018, on beneficiaries’ perceptions of public healthcare facilities. Results showed that UHI beneficiaries reported significantly higher overall satisfaction and...

Luxembourg health system works well but access is unequal, report finds
Luxembourg's healthcare system is broadly effective, with high coverage and low unmet needs, but challenges remain, including access issues for vulnerable populations and a reliance on foreign medical staff. The system also lacks strategic public health initiatives...
Policy analysis of the Universal Public Health Insurance program for Afghan refugees in Iran: a protocol study
This study addresses the challenges and weaknesses in refugees’ access to healthcare, particularly focusing on Afghan refugees in Iran, by comparing insurance policies from the seven countries with the highest refugee populations. It aims to analyze structural and...
Multidimensional vulnerability and financial risk protection in health in contexts of protracted conflict: Evidence from the Occupied Palestinian Territory
This paper, published in PLOS One authored by Julia Hatamyar, Sally Shayeb, Akseer Hussain, Weeam Hammoudeh, Sumit Mazumdar, and Rodrigo Moreno-Serra, explores the relationship between multidimensional vulnerability and financial risk protection (FRP) in health within...