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Improving Sustainable Financing for Universal Health Coverage in Bhutan: Exploring Policy Options and Financial
Ugyen Tshering1, Jayendra Sharma2, Dorji Tshering3
1Department of Public Health Ministry of Health Thimphu Bhutan.
Public Health Challenges
|June 11, 2025
Summary
Bhutan can achieve universal health coverage by implementing health taxes and strengthening health technology assessment (HTA). These strategies enhance financial sustainability and optimize resource allocation for better healthcare outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Public Health Policy
- Health Economics
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Bhutan's healthcare system, guided by Gross National Happiness (GNH), aims for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
- The system faces significant financial and operational challenges despite government funding.
- Expanding fiscal space and improving efficiency are key to overcoming these hurdles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze Bhutan's healthcare landscape and propose policy options for advancing UHC.
- To explore the potential of health taxes for financial sustainability and improved health outcomes.
- To recommend the integration of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) for effective resource allocation.
Main Methods:
- Policy analysis drawing on global experiences with health taxes.
- Review of existing governance structures for Health Technology Assessment (HTA).
- Recommendations for leveraging health taxes and strengthening HTA processes.
Main Results:
- Health taxes can reduce societal costs and enhance financial sustainability, particularly with high tobacco/alcohol use.
- Soft earmarking of health taxes can fund public health programs like lifestyle promotion and screening.
- Integrating HTA into decision-making optimizes resource allocation, informs standards, guidelines, and procurement.
Conclusions:
- Implementing health taxes and a robust HTA system are crucial for Bhutan's UHC goals.
- These policies improve financial sustainability, resource utilization, and healthcare delivery.
- The proposed strategies align with Bhutan's GNH philosophy and accelerate UHC progress.
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