Health financing strategy for the Asia Pacific region (2010-2015)
Overview
Despite impressive economic development in the Asia-Pacific region, many people suffer financial catastrophe and impoverishment each year because they have to pay for health care. Many others forgo health services because of the costs of health care. This reflects insufficient health spending by many countries in the region, limited prepayment mechanisms and safety nets, and an overreliance on out-of-pocket expenditures to finance the costs of health care. The World Health Organization developed a new health financing strategy for Asia Pacific region to address these concerns, with the ultimate aim of achieving universal coverage, where all people have access to appropriate promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services at an affordable cost.