Studies show health care is a heavy burden for millions

Studies show health care is a heavy burden for millions

MANILA, 23 March 2011—New figures suggest that each year more than 1.15 million families in Viet Nam and almost 250 000 families in the Philippines fall into financial hardship due to the cost of health care. And the World Health Organization (WHO) says the scenario is the same in Cambodia, China, the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Mongolia—four other countries surveyed in the same study.

WHO said that in all these countries and in others, many additional households were not even able to access health care due to the high cost.

The studies, commissioned by WHO this year, seek to give governments a better understanding of how households are adversely affected by health payments.

The surveys found that people who do receive treatment sometimes are driven into poverty because of the cost of medicines and health services. Many more simply can't afford care and, therefore, fall prey to the potential risk of serious health consequences. The grim situation is recurring worldwide, particularly among low- and medium-income families in developing nations.

In an effort to alleviate the financial burden of health payments, WHO and partner agencies, in collaboration with the six participating countries, began discussions today in Manila on these studies and their broader health financing policy implications.

"We are all troubled that in many countries around the world, millions of people suffer from ill-health because they cannot get the health care they need or because paying for health care devastates their livelihood," said Dr Shin Young-soo, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. "This is of particular concern in our Region, where out-of-pocket payments for medicines and health services are often excessive."

The two-day meeting will also consider how the participating countries and development partners can work in closer partnership on health financing issues.

ENDS

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