scholarly journals Catastrophic healthcare expenditure and poverty related to out-of-pocket payments for healthcare in Bangladesh—an estimation of financial risk protection of universal health coverage

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 1102-1110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jahangir A M Khan ◽  
Sayem Ahmed ◽  
Timothy G Evans
Keyword(s):  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk ◽  
Healthcare Expenditure ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk Protection ◽  
Out Of Pocket Payments ◽  
Risk Protection ◽  
Universal Health

scholarly journals Financial risk protection of Thailand’s Universal Health Coverage: results from series of national household surveys between 1996 and 2015

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viroj Tangcharoensathien ◽  
Kanjana Tisayaticom ◽  
Rapeepong Suphanchaimat ◽  
Vuthiphan Vongmongkol ◽  
Shaheda Viriyathorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk ◽  
Health Spending ◽  
Poverty Line ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk Protection ◽  
Catastrophic Health Spending ◽  
Out Of Pocket Payments ◽  
Risk Protection ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Background: Thailand, an upper-middle income country, has demonstrated exemplary outcomes of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The country achieved full population coverage and a high level of financial risk protection since 2002, through implementing three public health insurance schemes. UHC has two explicit goals of improved access to health services and financial protection where use of these services does not create financial hardship. Prior studies in Thailand do not however provide evidence of long-term UHC financial risk protection. This study assessed financial risk protection as measured by the incidence of catastrophic health spending and impoverishment in Thai households prior to and after UHC in 2002.Methods: We used data from a fifteen-year series of annual national household socioeconomic surveys between 1996 and 2015, which were conducted by the National Statistical Office. The survey covered about 52,000 nationally representative households in each round. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the incidence of catastrophic payment as measured by the share of out-of-pocket payments for health by households exceeding 10% and 25% of household total consumption expenditure, and the incidence of impoverishment as determined by the additional number of non-poor households falling below the national and international poverty lines after making health payments. Results: Using the 10% threshold, the incidence of catastrophic spending dropped from 6.0% in 1996 to 2% in 2015. This incidence reduced more significantly when the 25% threshold was applied from 1.8% to 0.4% during the same period. The incidence of impoverishment against the national poverty line reduced considerably from 2.2% in 1996 to approximately 0.3% in 2015. When the international poverty line of US$ 3.1 per capita per day was applied, the incidence of impoverishment was 1.4% and 0.4% in 1996 and 2015 respectively; and when US$ 1.9 per day was applied, the incidence was negligibly low. Conclusion: The significant decline in the incidence of catastrophic health spending and impoverishment was attributed to the deliberate design of Thailand’s UHC, which provides a comprehensive benefits package and zero co-payment at point of services. The well-founded healthcare delivery system and favourable benefit package concertedly support the achievement of UHC goals of access and financial risk protection.

scholarly journals Financial risk protection of Thailand’s Universal Health Coverage: results from series of national household surveys between 1996 and 2015

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viroj Tangcharoensathien ◽  
Kanjana Tisayaticom ◽  
Rapeepong Suphanchaimat ◽  
Vuthiphan Vongmongkol ◽  
Shaheda Viriyathorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk ◽  
Health Spending ◽  
Poverty Line ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk Protection ◽  
Catastrophic Health Spending ◽  
Out Of Pocket Payments ◽  
Risk Protection ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Background: Thailand, an upper-middle income country, has demonstrated exemplary outcomes of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The country achieved full population coverage and a high level of financial risk protection since 2002, through implementing three public health insurance schemes. UHC has two explicit goals of improved access to health services and financial protection where use of these services does not create financial hardship. Prior studies in Thailand do not however provide evidence of long-term UHC financial risk protection. This study assessed financial risk protection as measured by the incidence of catastrophic health spending and impoverishment in Thai households prior to and after UHC in 2002.Methods: We used data from a fifteen-year series of annual national household socioeconomic surveys between 1996 and 2015, which were conducted by the National Statistical Office. The survey covered about 52,000 nationally representative households in each round. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the incidence of catastrophic payment as measured by the share of out-of-pocket payments for health by households exceeding 10% and 25% of household total consumption expenditure, and the incidence of impoverishment as determined by the additional number of non-poor households falling below the national and international poverty lines after making health payments. Results: Using the 10% threshold, the incidence of catastrophic spending dropped from 6.0% in 1996 to 2% in 2015. This incidence reduced more significantly when the 25% threshold was applied from 1.8% to 0.4% during the same period. The incidence of impoverishment against the national poverty line reduced considerably from 2.2% in 1996 to approximately 0.3% in 2015. When the international poverty line of US$ 3.1 per capita per day was applied, the incidence of impoverishment was 1.4% and 0.4% in 1996 and 2015 respectively; and when US$ 1.9 per day was applied, the incidence was negligibly low. Conclusion: The significant decline in the incidence of catastrophic health spending and impoverishment was attributed to the deliberate design of Thailand’s UHC, which provides a comprehensive benefits package and zero co-payment at point of services. The well-founded healthcare delivery system and favourable benefit package concertedly support the achievement of UHC goals of access and financial risk protection.

scholarly journals Financial risk protection of Thailand’s universal health coverage: results from series of national household surveys between 1996 and 2015

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Viroj Tangcharoensathien ◽  
Kanjana Tisayaticom ◽  
Rapeepong Suphanchaimat ◽  
Vuthiphan Vongmongkol ◽  
Shaheda Viriyathorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk ◽  
Health Spending ◽  
Poverty Line ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk Protection ◽  
Catastrophic Health Spending ◽  
Risk Protection ◽  
Universal Health ◽  
Benefits Package

Abstract Background Thailand, an upper-middle income country, has demonstrated exemplary outcomes of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The country achieved full population coverage and a high level of financial risk protection since 2002, through implementing three public health insurance schemes. UHC has two explicit goals of improved access to health services and financial protection where use of these services does not create financial hardship. Prior studies in Thailand do not provide evidence of long-term UHC financial risk protection. This study assessed financial risk protection as measured by the incidence of catastrophic health spending and impoverishment in Thai households prior to and after UHC in 2002. Methods We used data from a 15-year series of annual national household socioeconomic surveys (SES) between 1996 and 2015, which were conducted by the National Statistic Office (NSO). The survey covered about 52,000 nationally representative households in each round. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the incidence of catastrophic payment as measured by the share of out-of-pocket payment (OOP) for health by households exceeding 10 and 25% of household total consumption expenditure, and the incidence of impoverishment as determined by the additional number of non-poor households falling below the national and international poverty lines after making health payments. Results Using the 10% threshold, the incidence of catastrophic spending dropped from 6.0% in 1996 to 2% in 2015. This incidence reduced more significantly when the 25% threshold was applied from 1.8 to 0.4% during the same period. The incidence of impoverishment against the national poverty line reduced considerably from 2.2% in 1996 to approximately 0.3% in 2015. When the international poverty line of US$ 3.1 per capita per day was applied, the incidence of impoverishment was 1.4 and 0.4% in 1996 and 2015 respectively; and when US$ 1.9 per day was applied, the incidence was negligibly low. Conclusion The significant decline in the incidence of catastrophic health spending and impoverishment was attributed to the deliberate design of Thailand’s UHC, which provides a comprehensive benefits package and zero co-payment at point of services. The well-founded healthcare delivery system and favourable benefits package concertedly support the achievement of UHC goals of access and financial risk protection.

scholarly journals Trends and projections of universal health coverage indicators in Ghana, 1995-2030: A national and subnational study

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cherri Zhang ◽  
Md. Shafiur Rahman ◽  
Md. Mizanur Rahman ◽  
Alfred E Yawson ◽  
Kenji Shibuya
Keyword(s):  
Health Service ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk ◽  
National Level ◽  
Bayesian Regression ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk Protection ◽  
Service Coverage ◽  
Risk Protection ◽  
Universal Health

Ghana has made significant stride towards universal health coverage (UHC) by implementing the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in 2003. This paper investigates the progress of UHC indicators in Ghana from 1995 to 2030 and makes future predictions up to 2030 to assess the probability of achieving UHC targets. National representative surveys of Ghana were used to assess health service coverage and financial risk protection. The analysis estimated the coverage of 13 prevention and four treatment service indicators at the national level and across wealth quintiles. In addition, this analysis calculated catastrophic health payments and impoverishment to assess financial hardship and used a Bayesian regression model to estimate trends and future projections as well as the probabilities of achieving UHC targets by 2030. Wealth-based inequalities and regional disparities were also assessed. At the national level, 14 out of the 17 health service indicators are projected to reach the target of 80% coverage by 2030. Across wealth quintiles, inequalities were observed amongst most indicators with richer groups obtaining more coverage than their poorer counterparts. Subnational analysis revealed while all regions will achieve the 80% coverage target with high probabilities for prevention services, the same cannot be applied to treatment services. In 2015, the proportion of households that suffered catastrophic health payments and impoverishment at a threshold of 25% non-food expenditure were 1.9% (95%CrI: 0.9-3.5) and 0.4% (95%CrI: 0.2-0.8), respectively. These are projected to reduce to less than 0.5% by 2030. Inequality measures and subnational assessment revealed that catastrophic expenditure experienced by wealth quintiles and regions are not equal. Significant improvements were seen in both health service coverage and financial risk protection as a result of NHIS. However, inequalities across wealth quintiles and at the subnational level continue to be cause of concerns. Further efforts are needed to narrow these inequality gaps.

scholarly journals Newborn health benefits or financial risk protection? An ethical analysis of a real-life dilemma in a setting without universal health coverage

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (8) ◽  
pp. 524-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine Husøy Onarheim ◽  
Ole Frithjof Norheim ◽  
Ingrid Miljeteig
Keyword(s):  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Ethical Analysis ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk Protection ◽  
Risk Protection ◽  
Universal Health

IntroductionHigh healthcare costs make illness precarious for both patients and their families’ economic situation. Despite the recent focus on the interconnection between health and financial risk at the systemic level, the ethical conflict between concerns for potential health benefits and financial risk protection at the household level in a low-income setting is less understood.MethodsUsing a seven-step ethical analysis, we examine a real-life dilemma faced by families and health workers at the micro level in Ethiopia and analyse the acceptability of limiting treatment for an ill newborn to protect against financial risk. We assess available evidence and ethical issues at stake and discuss the dilemma with respect to three priority setting criteria: health maximisation, priority to the worse-off and financial risk protection.ResultsGiving priority to health maximisation and extra priority to the worse-off suggests, in this particular case, that limiting treatment is not acceptable even if the total well-being gain from reduced financial risk is taken into account. Our conclusion depends on the facts of the case and the relative weight assigned to these criteria. However, there are problematic aspects with the premise of this dilemma. The most affected parties—the newborn, family members and health worker—cannot make free choices about whether to limit treatment or not, and we thereby accept deprivations of people’s substantive freedoms.ConclusionIn settings where healthcare is financed largely out-of-pocket, families and health workers face tragic trade-offs. As countries move towards universal health coverage, financial risk protection for high-priority services is necessary to promote fairness, improve health and reduce poverty.

scholarly journals No UHC without medicines: out-of-pocket payments for non-communicable diseases in 18 countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Murphy ◽  
B Palafox ◽  
S Rangarajan ◽  
S Yusuf ◽  
M McKee
Keyword(s):  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk ◽  
Health Spending ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
World Health ◽  
Director General ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk Protection ◽  
Risk Protection ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Background In 2014 the United Nations agreed on a goal to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by improving financial risk protection. We are far from achieving this: households with NCDs are at an increased risk of catastrophic health spending and impoverishment, particularly in lower middle- and low-income countries. There is a need to better understand the drivers of health spending among households with NCDs, to inform interventions aimed at achieving universal health coverage. Methods Using data from the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology Study, we analyse out-of-pocket expenditure (OOP) among households with NCDs (cancer, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, respiratory disease or kidney disease) in 18 countries: Canada, Sweden, Brazil, Chile, Malaysia, Poland, South Africa, Turkey, China, the Philippines, Colombia, Iran, the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. Results The leading driver of OOP on health care in almost all countries included is medicine. For example, the monthly OOP on medicines among NCD households in Iran, where roughly 18% of NCD households experience catastrophic spending, is USD 13.50, representing 36% of OOP on health. In Brazil this figure is USD 25.85, representing 46% of OOP on health. A large proportion of OOP is also made up by consultation fees, particularly in Sub-Saharan African countries. In Poland, 63% of OOP on health is spent on alternative medicine consultation fees. Conclusions Our findings echo the message shared by the Director General of the World Health Organization in 2018, that there is “no Universal Health Coverage without access to quality medicines”. Medicine costs impose a significant economic burden on NCD households in countries at all levels of development, highlighting the need to include essential medicines for NCDs in universal health coverage benefit packages. Key messages To achieve the goal of improved financial risk protection for NCDs we need to understand drivers of out-of-pocket spending among households with NCDs. Medicines are by far the largest driver of OOP in countries at all levels of development and require urgent attention to ensure universal health coverage.

scholarly journals Financial Risk Protection of Thailand Universal Health Coverage: results from series of national household surveys between 1996 and 2015.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viroj Tangcharoensathien ◽  
Kanjana Tisayaticom ◽  
Rapeepong Suphanchaimat ◽  
Vuthiphan Vongmongkol ◽  
Shaheda Viriyathorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Health Spending ◽  
Poverty Line ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk Protection ◽  
Catastrophic Health Spending ◽  
Risk Protection ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Background Thailand, an upper-middle country, had demonstrated exemplary outcomes of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The country has achieved UHC since 2002 when the whole population was covered by the three public health insurance schemes. Prior studies do not provide long series of UHC financial risk protection. This study assessed financial risk protection as measured by the incidence of catastrophic health spending and impoverishment in Thai households prior to and after UHC in 2002.Methods We used data from a fifteen-year series of annual national household socioeconomic surveys between 1996 and 2015, which were conducted by the National Statistical Office. The survey covered about 52,000 nationally representative households in each round. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the incidence of catastrophic payment as measured by the share of out-of-pocket payment for health by households exceeding 10% and 25% of household total consumption expenditure, and the incidence of impoverishment as determined by additional number of non-poor households falling below the national and international poverty lines after health payment.Results Using the 10% threshold, the incidence of catastrophic spending dropped from 6.0% in 1996 to 2% in 2015. This incidence reduced more significantly when 25% threshold was applied (from 1.8% to 0.4% in the same period). The incidence of impoverishment against national poverty line reduced considerably, from 2.2% in 1996 to approximately 0.3% in 2015. When the international poverty line of US$ 3.1 per capita per day was used, the incidence of impoverishment was 1.4% and 0.4% in 1996 and 2015 respectively; and when US$ 1.9 per day was applied, the incidence was negligibly low.Conclusion The significant decline in the incidence of catastrophic health spending and impoverishment was attributed to the deliberate design on the Thai UHC that provides comprehensive benefit package, zero co-payment at point of services. The well-founded healthcare delivery systems also play critical role in supporting and sustaining the function of the UHC.

scholarly journals Inequalities in financial risk protection in Bangladesh: an assessment of universal health coverage

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Rashedul Islam ◽  
Md. Shafiur Rahman ◽  
Zobida Islam ◽  
Cherri Zhang B. Nurs ◽  
Papia Sultana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk Protection ◽  
Risk Protection ◽  
Universal Health

scholarly journals What has been the progress in addressing financial risk in Uganda?  Analysis of catastrophe and impoverishment due to health payments

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan Kwesiga ◽  
Tom Aliti ◽  
Pamela Nabukhonzo Kakande ◽  
Peter Byawaka ◽  
Susan Najjuko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Financial Risk ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Poverty Line ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Financial Risk Protection ◽  
Quality Health Care ◽  
Out Of Pocket Payments ◽  
Risk Protection ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Monitoring progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) requires an assessment of progress in coverage of health services and protection of households from the impact of direct out-of-pocket payments (i.e. financial risk protection). Although Uganda has expressed aspirations for attaining UHC, out-of-pocket payments remain a major contributor to total health expenditure. The aim of this study is to monitor progress in financial risk protection in Uganda. Methods: This study uses data from the Uganda National Household Surveys for 2005/06, 2009/10, 2012/13 and 2016/17. We measure financial risk protection using catastrophic health care payments and impoverishment indicators. Health care payments are catastrophic if they exceed a set threshold (i.e. 10% and 25%) of the budget share of total household consumption expenditure. Health payments are impoverishing if they push the household below; the poverty line (using the US$1.90/day and Uganda’s national poverty lines). Logistic regression model is used to assess factors associated with household financial risk.Results: The results show that while progress has been made in reducing financial risk, this progress remains minimal and there is still a risk of reversal of this trend. We find that although catastrophic health payments at the 10% threshold decreased from 22.4% in 2005/06 to 13.8% in 2012/13, it increased to 14.2% in 2016/17. The percentage of Ugandans pushed below the poverty line (US$1.90/day) has decreased from 5.2% in 2005/06 to 2.7% in 2016/17. We show that the distribution of both catastrophic health payments and impoverishment varies across socio-economic status, location and residence. In addition, household characteristics (poverty, having a child below 5 years and an adult above 60 years) are more associated with households lacking financial risk protection. Conclusion: To address the lack of financial risk protection, there is need for interventions aimed at reducing out-of-pocket payments especially among those most affected. In short term, it is important to ensure that there is increased funding for publicly financed services to enable effective coverage with quality health care. In the medium term, introducing mandatory prepayment through health insurance will further reduce the burden due to household expenditure.

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