Sustainable Healthcare Financing for Universal Health Coverage

Affordability is one of the main determinants of healthcare access. People with low socioeconomic status are less able to receive appropriate healthcare. To optimise healthcare in an equally and equitably accessible way, universal health coverage is a direction to achieve this goal. Countries should focus on provision of accessible, affordable, safe, quality and essential healthcare services for all people, and this is one of the targets of SDG 3. Undoubtedly, healthcare financing determines the provision and model of service delivery in healthcare. In Hong Kong, all individuals have adequate treatment under the dual-track healthcare system. However, the general public is facing long waiting time for public healthcare services. Japan, the second longevity in the world, pursues universal health coverage by the establishment of employee-based and community-based social health insurance, and nearly all Japanese citizens are covered. Nevertheless, ageing societies are threatening the health insurance system. This chapter will compare different healthcare financing models in the Asia-Pacific region and identify how sustainable and equitable healthcare financing can be accomplished to ensure social and financial risk protection in terms of accessibility and universal health coverage leading to healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages.