Universal access to health care declared as Kazakhstan’s priority at Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting
First Vice Minister of Healthcare of Kazakhstan Marat Shoranov participated in the Fifth Meeting of Health Ministers of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Speaking at the meeting, Marat Shoranov noted that the principle of universal access to...
Kazakhstan aims to have at least 50% of pharmaceuticals produced domestically by 2025
In a recent meeting between the Minister of Healthcare of Kazakhstan Azhar Giniyat and the State Minister of Foreign Affairs and Culture of the Republic of India Meenakshi Lekhi, the parties discussed cooperation in health care between Kazakhstan and India....
Kazakhstan aims to finance PHC by up to 60% of all health care costs
At the round table meeting conducted to discuss the collaboration between WHO Country Office in Kazakhstan, Vice Minister of Healthcare and the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aizhan Esmagambetova reminded that Kazakhstan aims to reach the...
Parliament Members discussed steps to improve the health insurance system
The Committee for Social and Cultural Development of the Lower Chamber of Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan held a round table discussion on mandatory social health insurance attended by the Members of the Parliament, representatives of the Ministry of Health...
Health Insurance Fund held public hearings on pricing of its services
On June 29, 2022, public hearings were held on proposed prices for the services provided by the single payor -- the Social Health Insurance Fund. Public hearings are required to approve the prices of services provided by a state monopoly entity, such as the...
Cambodia 13-14.07.2022- Third Visioning Workshop: Extension of social health protection in pursuit of UHC in Cambodia
This workshop aims to disseminate the main findings of a comprehensive assessment of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Health Insurance scheme and to improve understanding and share a common vision on the extension of social health protection coverage in...
Singapore will release MediSave top-ups for senior citizens in July
This year Singapore will allocate a total of S$270 million to MediSave top-ups for senior citizens. In July, Singaporeans born in 1959 and earlier or aged 63 and over will receive MediSave top-ups between S$200 and S$900. In addition, those born in 1939 and earlier...
China has introduced Covid-19 vaccine insurance to increase vaccine coverage among the older population
To boost vaccination coverage among older citizens, the COVID vaccine insurance for COVID-19 vaccination side effects has been introduced in China. This insurance has been covered by the city’s fiscal department. Financial compensation up to 500,000 Yuan...
Thailand will end special insurance coverage for COVID-19 patients in July
During the pandemic, Covid-19 patients were able to seek treatment from hospitels or other hospitals, including the private sector. Since early 2020, over 150 billion baht (USD 4.19 billion) has been allocated for Covid-19 treatment. As Thailand’s situation is...
New document on public financial management during COVID-19 in Thailand is now available
This study aims to analyze how public financial management (PFM) in Thailand adapted to support the purchase of COVID-19 related health services and vaccines. The limitations which delayed implementation on the budget execution have been discussed. Findings show that...
Russia is investing funds to attract health workers to rural areas
Russian Ministry of Healthcare has allocated additional funding to the state programs named "Rural Doctor" and "Rural Physician Assitant to attract health care personnel to work in rural areas and small towns. The key change in a recently adopted policy was the...
Egypt: Implementation of national health insurance to continue in spite of global economic challenges
Egypt's Finance Ministry has asserted that the country's new Universal Health Insurance System (UHIS) will be implemented across all governorates, in line with presidential directives, in spite of the global economic challenges. Finance Minister Mohamed Maait, also...
Health Equity in Egypt: Reflections in 2022
This commentary sheds the light on the current health equity landscape in Egypt. It addresses equity issues relating to affordability, access, availability, utilization of health services and implications on health outcomes. On the policy level, Egypt has...
Saudi Arabia to no longer bear treatment costs of COVID-19 patients in private sector
The Council of Health Insurance (Dhaman) announced that the state will no longer bear the treatment costs of COVID-19 patients in the private sector facilities. Dhaman notified this through a circular sent to all the approved healthcare service providers and the...
Iran: Health Spending Has Increased Sixfold in Past Eight Years
According to senior Iranian budget officials, government spending in the healthcare sector has increased by six times in just eight years to over 6 billion USD. Hamid Pour Asghari, deputy head of the Plan and Budget Organization (PBO) of Iran, said that projected...