Health Universal coverage

World Bank Group releases 22-country study of universal health coverage

February 14, 2013

Studies point to convergence on solutions to difficult challenges in health policy implementation

WASHINGTON, February 14, 2013 – As a growing number of countries tackle the fiscal challenge of providing universal health coverage (UHC) for their citizens, today the World Bank released a set of 22 case studies of countries that have significantly expanded access to health care in the last decade, with the aim of helping countries make more informed health policy and program choices.

Researchers looked systematically at countries’ experiences with a set of parameters related to achieving UHC, including designing and managing benefits packages, expanding coverage to the poorest and excluded populations, providing quality care, and health financing. The 22 countries studied included Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia,Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey and Vietnam. The Bank also released an analysis of the impact of UHC efforts in the developing world./.../