Health Expenditures and Universal Coverage

  Based on countries income levels, they have to move towards universal coverage or to protect the gains already made with the help of following options. (At least one has to be used)
Options for immediate action include:

• raising more funds for health domestically;
• reducing financial barriers to services by increasing forms of prepayment and the pooling of funds, rather than relying on direct out-of-pocket payments;
• improving efficiency and equity in the way resources are used.

  Rich countries have responsibilities to help lower-income countries. Useful information can be gathered through National health accounts and other forms of expenditure tracking system.

Available Funds for Health

  Based on funds availability health services boundaries are fixed.

  Country’s wealth position, the proportion of national income incurred to health, and inflows of funds for health from external partners - these are the three major factors to determine country’s wealth position.

  Enormous variations have been seen in health expenditures between different countries.

  Per capita expenditures ranged from US$ 11 in Eritrea to US$ 8262 in Luxembourg.

  Average per capita expenditures also varied from US$ 48 in the South-East Asia Region to US$ 3187 in Americas.

  As per Innovative International Financing for Health Systems suggestion minimum of US$ 44 a country would require to meet health expenses.