Financing Health Care in East Asia and the Pacific

The East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region is characterised by wide variations in the types of health financing systems. The continued high prevalence of communicable diseases coupled with the rapid population aging place EAP financing systems under pressure. The need to mobilise additional financial resources for health has highlighted variations in technical and allocative efficiency as well as large inequalities. This basic premise of this book is that health systems need to generate sustainable, adequate financing for health so as to ensure that health outcomes are optimised and financial protection is guaranteed. Many countries in the EAP region are searching for health financing best practices and options for their country. This book reviews best practices and remaining challenges with regard to each of the functions of health financing -- collecting and pooling of revenues, and purchasing of services -- across EAP countries