Korea enhanced the COVID-19 response and childbirth care
Summary The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) in South Korea held a video conference, attended by the central ministries and 17 major local governments, to discuss the weekly risk evaluation and related response measures, fees paid...
New document on the political economy of UHC reform in Thailand is now available
Thailand achieved universal health coverage (UHC) with three public health insurance schemes in 2002. This study examined how political economy factors influenced the evolution of the UHC reform in Thailand by applying the political economy framework. This study...
The government of Eswatini urged to introduce COVID-19 to increase fiscal space
The COVID-19 pandemic came with a lot of uncertainties and has had a significant impact on not only the health sector but also on the economy especially in low and middle income countries. However, it also presented an opportunity for governments to be innovative in...
PhilHealth provides financial assistance to women with cancer
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) provides financial assistance to women with cancer that offers financial risk protection from cancer treatment. PhilHealth's Z Benefit package includes treatment of gynecologic...
Ghana to establish epidemics fund to address financing challenges
Discussions to set up a dedicated fund for epidemics took centre stage at a forum in Accra to collate input for the 2022 budget statement and economic policy. Proponents said the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had made such a fund more relevant, hence the need for...
New document available on Ghana country page
An article discussing the importance of political will in the implementation of a national health insurance has been uploaded to the Ghana country page. The full article can be accessed using the link below.
Health Economics and Financing Workshop in Kuwait, 30-31 March 2022
The Kuwait Ministry of Health (MOH) and WHO Regional Office and Kuwait Country Office are jointly organizing a capacity building workshop on 30-31 March 2022, as part of an overall effort to strengthen capacity in health financing to support progress towards universal...
Health Financing for UHC training co-organized by WHO and WB under the umbrella of the P4H Network in Ethiopia
Between 14-18 March 2022, WHO and WB (under the umbrella of the P4H Network) co-organized a health financing training with the Ethiopian Health Insurance Services (EHIS) and the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) on key concepts of health financing for Universal Health...
New payment rate for continuous renal replacement therapy in Thailand
The National Health Security Office has increased hospital reimbursement rates for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), aiming to increase access to treatment among people with acute kidney injury. Following this payment policy, hospitals providing CRRT to...
New document on the political economy of health financing reform in Malaysia is now available
There is growing evidence that political economy factors are important for adopting health financing reforms, but there is little consensus about which political and institutional factors determine the results of reform proposals. This study examined efforts at health...
Progress in health among regions of Ethiopia, 1990–2019: a subnational country analysis
New article published in Lancet: Previous Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) studies have reported national health estimates for Ethiopia. Substantial regional variations in socioeconomic status, population, demography, and access to...
Vietnam Social Security: Ready for the pilot implementation of chip-based ID cards in medical treatment with health insurance
https://vss.gov.vn/english/news/Pages/vietnam-social-security.aspx?ItemID=10300&CateID=198
Viet Nam: Covid patients struggle to get documents to make social insurance claim
In Vietnam social security claims for COVID 19 treatment require sick leave certificates that are delayed due to multiple and cumbersome procedures. The Law on Social Insurance provides that an employee who falls ill and must temporarily leave work is entitled to a...
Oman government meets COVID 19 healthcare challenge by procuring private sector services
Oman’s public health sector partnered with private healthcare institutions that helped in lessening the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country. Private sector participation increased the country’s hospitalization capacity, handled the overflow of patients from...
EU-funded National Recovery and Resilience Plan of Latvia to allocate 10% of the grant to health
According to a Briefing by the European Parliamentary Research Service, EU-funded National Recovery and Resilience Plan of Latvia is to allocate 10% of the grant to health. The briefing reports that Latvia's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) sets...