scholarly journals Financing Healthcare in Central and Eastern European Countries: How Far Are We from Universal Health Coverage?

Author(s):  
Marzena Tambor ◽  
Jacek Klich ◽  
Alicja Domagała

After the fall of communism, the healthcare systems of Central and Eastern European countries underwent enormous transformation, resulting in departure from publicly financed healthcare. This had significant adverse effects on equity in healthcare, which are still evident. In this paper, we analyzed the role of government and households in financing healthcare in eight countries (EU-8): Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. A desk research method was applied to collect quantitative data on healthcare expenditures and qualitative data on gaps in universal health coverage. A linear regression analysis was used to analyze a trend in health expenditure over the years 2000–2018. Our results indicate that a high reliance on out-of-pocket payments persists in many EU-8 countries, and only a few countries have shown a significant downward trend over time. The gaps in universal coverage in the EU-8 countries are due to explicit rationing (a limited benefit package, patient cost sharing) and implicit mechanisms (wait times). There is need to increase the role of public financing in CEE countries through budget prioritization, reducing patient co-payments for medical products and medicines, and extending the benefit package for these goods, as well as improving the quality of care.

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (T2) ◽  
pp. 41-46
Author(s):  
Rahmat Anzari ◽  
Sukri Palutturi ◽  
Aminuddin Syam

BACKGROUND: The legislative role intended in accordance with the mandate of law number 17 of 2014 concerning the MPR, DPR, DPD, and DPRD in article 365 mentions three functions of the DPRD, namely, legislation, budgeting, and supervision. AIM: This study aimed to determine the legislative role in the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Kolaka Regency. METOHDS: This research method uses a qualitative with four informants selected by accidental sampling. Data obtained through in-depth interviews, observation, and document review. Data triangulation analysis is used to obtain data validity. RESULTS: The results showed that the role of the legislature in the legislative function had not been carried out properly because there were no regional regulations issued by the district government of Kolaka who supports the achievement of UHC and will only conduct academic studies related to JKN, the budgeting function has been carried out well because of Commission III of the District Parliament of Kolaka has provided full support regarding budgeting in the health sector and the oversight function is also well implemented. Parliamentary budget oversight in Kolaka is carried out 3 times a year/per quarter by the DPRD in collaboration with the inspectorate, BPK and APIP by comparing planning with reality on the ground. It was concluded that the legislative role in the achievement of UHC in Kolaka was not fully functioning properly. CONCLUSION: It is expected to immediately formulate and issue regional regulations that support the implementation of the JKN program as a manifestation of the achievement of UHC in Kolaka and involve academic experts in UHC/JKN in formulating the regional regulation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 101-121
Author(s):  
Hongfei Gu

While much discussion centres on China’s engagement with Central and Eastern European countries, few studies investigate the role of subnational actors in the relations between the two sides. This paper brings China’s cooperation with Central and Eastern European (CEECs) countries, centred around what is popularly known as the “16 + 1” mechanism. It aims to unravel the link between local governments and the “16 + 1” cooperation mechanism. Local governments’ external cooperation is a new attempt in China’s diplomatic layout. It argues that the exchanges between local governments are a useful supplement to the in-depth cooperation between the two sides, and the cooperation between the two sides has formed a relatively stable pattern. At present, it has entered the stage of an in-depth integration focusing on optimization and upgrading. The further development of local cooperation mainly depends on whether it can play a sufficient leading role in the economic development of China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.


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