[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”!! PLEASE DO NOT EDIT !!!” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ admin_label=”!!! PLEASE DO NOT EDIT !!!” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][ba_gradient_heading title=”Thinking it all over” html_tag=”h3″ primary_color=”#455A64″ secondary_color=”#455A64″ admin_label=”HEADING (50-60 characters)” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” title_font_size=”32px” title_line_height=”1em” custom_padding=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/ba_gradient_heading][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 10 – recap” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”15px” custom_margin=”||30px||false|false” custom_padding=”20px|25px|20px|25px|false|false” custom_css_main_element=”background:#DCE5EA;” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Recap: <\/strong>The <\/em>previous two posts in this <\/em>series shed light on <\/em>p<\/em>ost<\/em>-Soviet <\/em>health financing reforms<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>in <\/em>the <\/em>years of independence. <\/em>However, <\/em>a state-run, budget-based health system did not correspond with <\/em>people\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>needs. <\/em>Eleven of the <\/em>15 <\/em>countries in the region<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>chose<\/em> some form of <\/em>compulsory <\/em>health insurance<\/em>. <\/em>The contributory health insurance reforms were among the largest and deepest. They required action <\/em>by<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>the <\/em>highest level of government<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>and permeated many sectors of the economy.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 1 ” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]An article by Yazbeck et al.<\/a>\u00a0maintains that general government revenue budget transfer is superior to contributory models of financing such as mandatory social health insurance (SHI) [1]<\/a><\/sup>. The authors reviewed available literature and advised against the introduction of\u00a0contributory health insurance\u00a0in low- and middle-income\u00a0countries, arguing that the SHI model did not add meaningful resources to the health sector, but rather increased inequality in access, inefficiency, and informal engagement in the labour market, among other drawbacks.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/p4h.world\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Ever-growing-health-expenditure_map_Sep2023.jpg” title_text=”Maps-08 (2).png” admin_label=” IMAGE – 650x320px ” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n I believe that to propose an exclusively state budget-based system and hope it enables universal health coverage is utopian in the world of fast-growing health spending, proliferating health technologies, growing and aging population, and increasing morbidity from noncommunicable diseases.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text quote_border_color=”#EA3A32″ admin_label=”PULL QUOTE (250-300 ch.)” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” quote_font=”Oswald||||||||” quote_text_color=”#5EAABC” quote_font_size=”24px” quote_line_height=”1.3em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Budget and taxation capacity are limited, and health sector spending grows faster than national income.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 4 ” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]The debate continued in an interesting response to Yazbeck et al. by authors Mor and Ashraf<\/a> from India [2]<\/a><\/sup>. Mor and Ashraf\u2019s argument that \u201casking citizens to wait interminably for additional tax resources to be made available would be a grave disservice to them\u201d\u00a0resonates with me. As a young national policy maker in my home country, for more than a decade I heard the many arguments in favour\u00a0of the mandatory social health insurance model. They were voiced by consultants from the Western world, with the World Bank being the largest source of SHI reform funding through a substantial country loan. Looking at the affiliations of the original article\u2019s authors, it seemed\u00a0the same institutions\u00a0are suggesting to countries like Kazakhstan, \u201cDon\u2019t do what we have been advising for decades\u201d.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 5″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n While there is a limited\u00a0number of publications on SHI reforms in the post-Soviet countries, in my analysis, countries that decided to pursue the SHI model have benefited from the transition given where they came from.\u00a0At the same time, I cannot say I am completely happy with what such complex and hard-fought reforms\u00a0brought. My thoughts about post-reform realities are presented below.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][ba_gradient_heading title=”So, what\u2019s next? ” html_tag=”h3″ primary_color=”#455A64″ secondary_color=”#455A64″ admin_label=”HEADING (50-60 characters)” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” title_font_size=”32px” title_line_height=”1em” custom_margin=”10px|0px|10px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/ba_gradient_heading][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 6″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Politicians and public servants typically put off the question \u201cWhat\u2019s next?\u201d while they battle the immediate challenges of bringing desired stakeholders on board. They are busy trying to meet deadlines and target indicators while transitioning to a new health financing model. Little time is left for\u00a0thoughts about future actions.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 7″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Countries that introduced mandatory SHI\u00a0soon after\u00a0independence, such as\u00a0Estonia (1991), Lithuania (1991), Russia (1993), Kyrgyzstan (1997) and Moldova (2004) have asked \u201cWhat\u2019s next?\u201d early in their reform process. The answers resulted in\u00a0a series of\u00a0<\/strong>gradual\u00a0reforms. These reforms addressed inefficiencies in health care and helped to improve the way SHI is implemented.\u00a0Here are some examples.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 8 Estonia” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Since 2012,\u00a0Estonia<\/strong>\u00a0broadened the health insurance revenue base<\/a> by \u201cintroducing a state budget transfer of 13% on behalf of nonworking pensioners and gradually increasing the share of the state budget as part of the total health budget\u201d. Estonia also consolidated the purchasing function under a single payer, which now pays for emergency care for the uninsured, ambulance care, HIV treatment and other services, which were previously financed from the state budget [3]<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 9 Kyrgyzstan” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Kyrgyzstan<\/strong>\u00a0made major efforts<\/a>\u00a0[4]<\/a><\/sup> to increase public spending on health and improve the efficiency of resource allocation with emphasis on primary health care and health outcomes by providing services without financial and other barriers to access. As a result, the UHC service coverage index in Kyrgyzstan improved from 51 in 2000 to 71 in 2017<\/a>\u00a0[5]<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 10 Mongolia” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Although not a post-Soviet country, Mongolia <\/strong>presents a valuable example because it shares characteristics similar to those of its post-Soviet neighbours and is geopolitically related to them. Mongolia introduced SHI in 1994. It has also been implementing\u00a0a health financing reform to improve efficient use of resources for better health outcomes and financial protection since 2020 [6]<\/a><\/sup>. One of Mongolia\u2019s current reform goals<\/a>\u00a0is to strengthen primary health care by increasing funding for it from 20% of the health budget in 2021\u00a0to 26%\u00a0in 2022 [7]<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 11″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n These examples illustrate how countries with mature SHI systems identify areas of improvement and work on them successfully years after introducing mandatory SHI. Post-SHI reform work does not end and may rejuvenate with new goals decades after.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 12″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n But countries new to operating their health financing based on contributory\u00a0health insurance, such as Kazakhstan<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>(2020), Azerbaijan<\/strong> (2021), and Uzbekistan<\/strong> (piloting since 2021), are either just beginning to realize or are yet to see that SHI does not solve all outstanding problems.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text quote_border_color=”#EA3A32″ admin_label=”PULL QUOTE (250-300 ch.)” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” quote_font=”Oswald||||||||” quote_text_color=”#5EAABC” quote_font_size=”26px” quote_line_height=”1.3em” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The promised increased total health spending (or \u201cmore money for health\u201d), which was a well-advertised reform goal, is not enough to meet\u00a0the growing health expenditure.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 13″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Certainly, the level of system maturity, social and economic factors, and the exact model and governance structures related to contributory health insurance differ from country to country.\u00a0Yet, this issue \u2013 that more money is still not enough \u2013 is the common challenge faced by countries that introduced mandatory SHI.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 13″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]This issue\u00a0was well described by Yazbeck et al.<\/a>\u00a0[1]<\/a><\/sup>. The new stream of funds from insurance premiums feels substantial at first, yet\u00a0is not enough to offset the growth in health expenditure. The benefit basket defined today costs more tomorrow due to inflation, demographic changes, the burden of noncommunicable diseases,\u00a0and many other causes.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 13″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Not only policymakers are puzzled with a post-reform truth. Employees and employers\u00a0who started to pay health care premiums, which they did not prior to SHI, are also puzzled. They were promised higher quality care, a wider benefit basket\u00a0or better access to care. But instead, the new rhetoric is likely to be that the new (more) money is not enough to meet such goals.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 13″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n I underscore that a new stream of funding \u2013 contributions from employees and employers \u2013\u00a0has come with SHI. But given the above dilemma, politicians face pressure to retain the trust of the public in government institutions and reforms.\u00a0Today\u2019s energy\u00a0deficient, high\u00a0inflation, and\u00a0geopolitically unstable environment\u00a0adds to the pressure. The argument to continue to support the ever more expensive health system by increasing premiums or taxes meets resistance. The difficulty in making a\u00a0social contract (paying insurance premiums for better health care) is that many external factors are at play.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 13″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The growing health expenditure and limitations in funding might explain the popularity of recent attempts to seek alternative sources for health funding. One example is health taxes<\/strong>. Countries that have exhausted their ability to boost domestic revenues from taxes, budgets, and insurance contributions are probably exploring health taxes as a new avenue to raise funds. Although scientists believe that in no case should additional money be the goal when introducing so-called \u201csin taxes\u201d (excise taxes) on tobacco, alcohol or sugary drinks.<\/span><\/span> The purpose of such innovations should be solely to promote public health – to reduce or limit their consumption.<\/span><\/span><\/span> This involves an array of battles of another kind \u2013 with the industries that produce tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][ba_gradient_heading title=”The strength of collaboration ” html_tag=”h3″ primary_color=”#455A64″ secondary_color=”#455A64″ admin_label=”HEADING (50-60 characters)” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” title_font_size=”32px” title_line_height=”1em” custom_margin=”10px|0px|10px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/ba_gradient_heading][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 13″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Big questions, such as where to get the additional or sufficient funds and how to effectively manage health expenditure,\u00a0are not answered easily. The richer the menu of sources for knowledge, the higher the likelihood of a well-grounded policy response. Academic discussions, program evaluation reports and the literature on the post-Soviet health reform experiences are rather limited. For most policymakers in this region, their level of English limits their use of the rapidly growing body of evidence published in English. The lack of professional development time and work-life imbalance are also barriers to learning from publications and formal reports.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 13″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||30px||false|false” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The main form of knowledge exchange in the post-Soviet region is, therefore,\u00a0networking. In addition to country-specific numbers and facts, meetings (formal or informal, virtual or in-person) and other work-related exchanges with people from countries that share similar contexts\u00a0constitute the predominant sources of knowledge \u2013 and therefore insight \u2013 that guide policymakers. When tackling the dilemma \u2013 whether the money is enough \u2013 policymakers who are able to benefit from collaboration realize they are not alone and eagerly learn from peers.\u00a0The ability of the P4H Network to promote regional collaboration among institutions and countries is especially promising for policymakers from the region, which is unique and little\u00a0understood by outsiders.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”image CAPTION” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”13px” custom_margin=”||20px||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Featured image on top:<\/strong> Nurses at work in a hospital in Kyrgyzstan, published under news headline: \u201cHealth insurance becomes compulsory in Kyrgyzstan\u201d. Source: Akipress<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 9 – reference” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”13px” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n References<\/strong><\/p>\n [1]<\/span>\u00a0 Yazbeck AS, Soucat AL, Tandon A, et al. Addiction to a bad idea, especially in low- and middle-income countries: Contributory health insurance. Soc Sci Med<\/em>. 2023;320:115168. doi:10.1016\/j.socscimed.2022.115168 <\/a><\/p>\n [2]<\/span>\u00a0 Mor N, Ashraf H. Is contributory health insurance indeed an addiction to a bad idea? A comment on its relevance for low- and middle-income countries. Soc Sci Med<\/em>. 2023;326:115918. doi:10.1016\/j.socscimed.2023.115918<\/a><\/p>\n [3]<\/span>\u00a0 European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. Habicht, Triin, Kahur, Kristiina, Kasekamp, Kaija, K\u00f6hler, Kristina. et al. (\u200e2023)\u200e. Estonia: health system summary, 2022. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. Page 12. Accessed on May 18, 2023, at https:\/\/apps.who.int\/iris\/handle\/10665\/366157<\/a><\/p>\n [4]<\/span> Kyrgyzstan adopts new health strategy for 2019\u20132030.\u201d Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2019. Accessed on May 18, 2023, at https:\/\/www.who.int\/europe\/news\/item\/23-01-2019-kyrgyzstan-adopts-new-health-strategy-for-2019-2030<\/a><\/p>\n [5]<\/span>\u00a0 World Bank. UHC service coverage index – Kyrgyz Republic. 2023. Accessed on May 18, 2023, at https:\/\/data.worldbank.org\/indicator\/SH.UHC.SRVS.CV.XD?locations=KG<\/a><\/p>\n [6]<\/span>]\u00a0 Resolution # 1, 28 January 2022, National Health Insurance Council, Mongolia. General Authority of Health Insurance. Accessed on June 1, 2023, at https:\/\/emd.gov.mn\/<\/a><\/p>\n [7]<\/span> Annual Report of the Health Insurance Fund, General Authority of Health Insurance, 2022. General Authority of Health Insurance. Accessed on June 1, 2023, at https:\/\/emd.gov.mn\/<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 9 – Acknowledgements” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”13px” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Acknowledgements<\/strong><\/p>\n The author thanks the P4H Coordination Desk leadership and team represented by Alexis Bigeard<\/a>, Bayarsaikhan Dorjsuren<\/a>, Claude Meyer<\/a>, Melinda Ojermark<\/a>, Elisabetta Tomassini<\/a> and Elise Yousoufian<\/a> for their continuous support and valuable editorial suggestions.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n
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Thinking it all over<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Recap: The previous two posts in this series shed light on post-Soviet health financing reforms\u00a0in the years of independence. However, a state-run, budget-based health system did not correspond with people\u2019s\u00a0needs. Eleven of the 15 countries in the region\u00a0chose…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":987643264,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[170],"tags":[134,123,126],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/p4h.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/987643260"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/p4h.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/p4h.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p4h.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p4h.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=987643260"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/p4h.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/987643260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":987780821,"href":"https:\/\/p4h.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/987643260\/revisions\/987780821"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p4h.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/987643264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/p4h.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=987643260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p4h.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=987643260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p4h.world\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=987643260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}