Healthcare Financing in Saudi Arabia: Recent Trend and Future Challenges.

This paper provides an overview of the present healthcare financing system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and identify critical issues and challenges that need to be addressed in achieving healthcare system financing goals envisioned under the Saudi Vision-2030. This paper employed a descriptive framework based on literature review, documentation analysis, and secondary data on healthcare financing in the KSA collected from various reports. The study shows that the overall health expenditure as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product has increased from 4.4% (2001) to 6.4% (2018). The per capita expenditure on healthcare was US dollar (US$) 1484.6 in 2018, out of which the government's share was US$ 926.95. After the introduction of mandatory employer-based health insurance, the percentage of public funding on healthcare has slowly declined from 75.2% (2001) to 62.4% (2018), and out-of-pocket spending on healthcare reduced from 18.46% (2000) to 14.37% in 2018. The health financing system in the KSA faces several challenges, including health insurance coverage, access to care, equity, and quality of care.

Household Out-of-Pocket Payments and Trend in Korea / 보건행정학회지

After the announcement of Moon Jae-in Government's plan (Moon's Care) for Benefit Expansion in National Health Insurance in August 2017, it is necessary to monitor the effects of the policy, especially household out-of-pocket payments (OOP). This paper aims to observe the current status and trend of OOP in Korea. Current health expenditure (CHE) was 144.4 trillion won in 2018, which accounts for 8.1% of gross domestic product (GDP) increased 9.7% from the previous year. Although GDP's share of CHE has been close to the average of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, the public fund's share was 59.8% of the total in 2018, which was lower than the OECD average of 73.5%. OOP's share was 32.9% in 2018, which decreased from 37.4% in 2008. The share of OOP of non-covered services was 20.0% in 2018, which decreased from 22.9% in 2008. The share of cost-sharing with third-party payers was 12.9% in 2018, which decreased from 14.5% in 2008. The OOP of non-covered services was significantly decreased in hospital and inpatient curative care, but the OOP of non-covered services was significantly increased in the medical clinic. The effect of Moon's Care was not showed in OOP through the results of 2017 and 2018, but further monitoring is needed because the Moon's Care is progressing and the observational period is short.

Study on poverty impact of out-of-pocket payment in western China: Based on the survey on the remote rural minority-inhabited areas / 中国卫生政策研究

Objective: This paper aims to evaluate the poverty impact incurred by out-of-pocket payment (OOP) on rural residents in the selected remote minority-inhabited areas in western China both in 2011 and 2014. Methods: Under China's national poverty line, poverty headcount ratio and poverty gap were estimated from two rounds of household survey in 2011 and 2014, respectively. The Pan's Parade was also pictured. Results: In 2011, the poverty headcount ratios before and after the OOP were 31.07% and 51.70%;and the poverty impact was 20.63%. The impact of average poverty gap and mean positive poverty gap was 284.24 Yuan and 183.73 Yuan, respectively. In 2014, the poverty headcount ratios before and after the OOP were 29.40% and 44.66%;and the poverty impact was 15.26%. The impact of average poverty gap and mean positive poverty gap was 242.68 Yuan and 240.41 Yuan, respectively. Conclusion: Poverty headcount ratio and average poverty gap were reduced in the area of interest within the current study, but the mean positive poverty gap was increased. New rural cooperative medical scheme needs to be further adjusted for improving the insured individual's benefits. Low-income group should be paid more attention to eliminate impoverishment incurred by OOP.

Differences in Family Caregivers' Opinions about Out-of-Pocket Payment for Long-Term Care Facilities by Income Levels / 보건행정학회지

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate family caregivers' opinions about out-of-pocket payment for long-term care (LTC) facilities, and find the differences in the opinions for family caregivers of all different levels of income. METHODS: We used the data of the study on out-of-pocket payment in national long-term care insurance, including 1,552 family caregivers with the elderly in long-term care facilities. RESULTS: The average out-of-pocket payment per month was 511,635 Korean won and distributed from 230,750 to 1,365,570 Korean won. The amount of out-of-pocket payment might be affected by not co-payment but the cost of non-covered service. There were differences in them for family caregivers of all different levels of income. Opinions were surveyed about 5 issues. By levels of income, there were differences in their opinions about 3 issues, the financial burden on LTC, the necessity of reducing out-of-pocket payments, and to be willing to pay more for a high quality service. But there were not different opinions about the interruption of LTC service and staying with LTC facilities. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the range of out-of-pocket payment for LTC facility is wide and it can be a burden to lower income group. It should be to prepare the policies to ease the financial burden and support the appropriate LTC use.

Estimation on the Relationship between Personal Health Expenditure and Economic Growth in China Based on the Logistic Smooth Transition Regression Model / 中国卫生经济

Objective: To describe the non-linear relationship between out-of-pocket ( OOP ) payment and economic growth . Methods: Using logistic smooth transition regression model to analyze the impact of government health expenditure on the non-liner relationship between OOP payment and economic growth. Results:The impact of economic growth on OOP health expenditure is divided into 3 stages:from 1978 to 1996, the influence of economic growth on out-of-pocket payment approaches to highly-efficient mechanism operation;from 1997 to 2008 belongs to the transition period, it stays as low-efficient mechanism operation since 2009. Conclusion: To continue deepening the medical and health system reform and reduce the burden of personal health expenditure.

Comparative analysis of changes in provincial health expenditure since China health system re-form in 2009 / 中国卫生政策研究

Objective:To analyze the characteristics of health financing at the provincial level according to the total health expenditure since China health system reform began in 2009 and provide evidence for improving health fi-nancing policy. Methods:20 provinces were chosen and vertical and horizontal Comparative approach was used to an-alyze the data. Results:Total health expenditure increased for all regions, of which the biggest rate was Anhui prov-ince, about 82. 97%, while the largest increasing for government health care expenditure was Ningxia province, a-bout 108 . 71%. In 2012 , the provinces with social health expenditure share of total above 40% were allocated in the east region, and the number of provinces with out-of pocket payment share of total above 40% reduces to 5. Conclu-sion:Total health expenditure grew in all regions, but there were differences in the degree that this spending matched the economic level;The financing structure was optimized, but the characteristic of regional financing was different. Some provinces were under huge pressure to reduce out-of pocket payments. Suggestions: Under the premise of im-proving the funding level, financing structure adjustment must be focused, and public funding should play a bigger role and out-of pocket payments should be reduced.

Socio-economic inequalities in the financing of cardiovascular & diabetes inpatient treatment in India.

Background & objectives: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes have become a leading threat to public health in India. This study examines socio-economic differences in self-reported morbidity due to CVD and diabetes, where people having these conditions seek care, how much households pay for and how they finance hospital treatment for these conditions. Methods: Data for this study are taken from the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) 60th round on ‘Morbidity and Health Care’ conducted between January and June 2004. Information from 2,129 and 438 individuals hospitalized for CVD and diabetes was analyzed. Results: The self-reported prevalence among adults was 12 per cent for CVD, 4 per cent (7% urban and 3% rural) for heart disease and 6 per cent (10% in urban and 4% in rural) for diabetes. Both self-reported CVD and diabetes appeared to afflict the wealthier more. The private sector was the main provider of outpatient and inpatient care for CVD and diabetes treatment, though the poor depended more on the public sector. Out-of-pocket payments (OOPS) for hospital treatment claimed a large share of annual household expenditures; 30 per cent for CVD and 17 per cent for diabetes. The OOPS share for diabetes treatment declined with increasing income. The majority of OOPS for hospital treatment paid by the poor was financed through borrowings. Interpretation & conclusions: The considerable financial strain which households, particularly the poor, face in treating CVD and diabetes is alarming. As the burden due to CVD and diabetes increases in India, more households will be subject to these financial strains and unfortunately, the economically vulnerable among them will be the worst affected. While primary prevention of these conditions need more emphasis, in addition, insurance schemes targeted at the poor like the RSBY have an important role to play in financially protecting vulnerable households.