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. 2016 Oct 31;1(Suppl 2):i12-i18.
doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2016-000190. eCollection 2016.

Accelerating progress towards universal health coverage in Asia and Pacific: improving the future for women and children

Allison Beattie  1 , Robert Yates  1 , Douglas J Noble  2
Affiliations

Accelerating progress towards universal health coverage in Asia and Pacific: improving the future for women and children

Allison Beattie et al. BMJ Glob Health. .

Abstract

Universal health coverage generates significant health and economic benefits and enables governments to reduce inequity. Where universal health coverage has been implemented well, it can contribute to nation-building. This analysis reviews evidence from Asia and Pacific drawing out determinants of successful systems and barriers to progress with a focus on women and children. Access to healthcare is important for women and children and contributes to early childhood development. Universal health coverage is a political process from the start, and public financing is critical and directly related to more equitable health systems. Closing primary healthcare gaps should be the foundation of universal health coverage reforms. Recommendations for policy for national governments to improve universal health coverage are identified, including countries spending < 3% of gross domestic product in public expenditure on health committing to increasing funding by at least 0.3%/year to reach a minimum expenditure threshold of 3%.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
THE and PHE in Asia and Pacific countries World Bank 2014. THE, total health expenditure; PHE, public health expenditure.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Public health expenditure as a share of total health expenditure World Bank 2014.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Public health financing replacing out-of-pocket expenditure in Asia and the Pacific World Bank 2014.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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