Financing Health Care in East Asia and the Pacific: Best Practices and Remaining Challenges (Directions in Development)

p>The East Asia and Pacific region is characterized by wide variations in sources of healthcare financing, pooling of funds, purchasing of care services, and the extent to which these policy instruments and programs provide social protection. Existing healthcare financing systems in the region are under increasing pressure from a continued prevalence of communicable diseases, an emergence of non communicable diseases, and a rapidly aging population.

Large inequalities between the poor and the prosperous in their access to healthcare financing mechanisms can be reformed and strengthened to improve outcomes-especially for the poor. Financing Health Care in East Asia and the Pacific emphasizes the need for high-quality, well-funded health systems that generate sustainable financing to ensure optimal health outcomes and guaranteed financial protection. Adequate funding, however, will not be enough. Systems will need to manage and spend funds wisely. It reviews best practices and remaining challenges related to every function of health financing both within countries and across East Asia and Pacific countries. The book will be of particular interest to government leaders, policy makers, health economists, donors, and health service researchers.