Generating evidence for UHC: systematic monitoring of financial protection in European health systems

Abstract

High-performing health systems protect people from experiencing financial hardship when using needed health services. But what does financial hardship mean, how is it measured and what can policy makers learn through systematic monitoring? These are some of the questions the WHO Regional Office for Europe is addressing in a new study that uses a refined methodology to monitor financial protection across countries in Europe. The study will provide actionable information on a key indicator of universal health coverage (UHC) and an important dimension of health system performance