Emerging challenges in implementing universal health coverage in Asia

Area of Science:

• Health Policy and Systems Research
• International Health
• Public Health Economics

Background:

• Asian nations are striving for universal health coverage (UHC), encountering shared obstacles.
• Key challenges include extending coverage to informal sectors, creating fiscally sustainable and responsive benefit packages, and ensuring adequate service delivery capacity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine common challenges in achieving UHC in Asia.
• To discuss strategies for addressing informal sector coverage, benefit package design, and supply-side readiness.
• To highlight the context-specific nature of successful UHC implementation.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of case studies and policy approaches from the Asia region.
• Discussion of emerging strategies for informal sector inclusion.
• Review of benefit package design processes and supply-side readiness factors.

Main Results:

• Two main approaches for informal sector coverage: general revenue funding or mixed incentives, each with trade-offs.
• Benefit packages often lack sufficient focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and preventive care.
• Significant variations and inequities exist in supply-side readiness (infrastructure, staffing, drugs), impacting UHC goals.

Conclusions:

• Overcoming UHC challenges requires tailored, context-specific solutions.
• Continuous assessment and cross-country sharing of diverse approaches are essential for advancing UHC in Asia and globally.