Evaluation of progress toward universal health coverage in Myanmar: A national and subnational analysis.
PLoS Med
; 18(10): e1003811, 2021 10.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34653183
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Universal health coverage (UHC) encompasses 2 main components access to essential healthcare services and protection from financial hardship when using healthcare. This study examines Myanmar's efforts to achieve UHC on a national and subnational level. It is a primer of studying the concept of UHC on a subnational level, and it also establishes a baseline for assessing future progress toward reaching UHC in Myanmar. METHODS ANDFINDINGS:
The study uses the Demographic and Health Survey (2015) and the Myanmar Living Conditions Survey (MLCS; 2017) and adapts a previously developed UHC index to provide insights into the main barriers preventing the country's progress toward UHC. We find a negative correlation between the UHC index and the state/region poverty levels. The equity of access analysis reveals significant pro-rich inequity in access to all essential healthcare services. Socioeconomic status and limited availability of healthcare infrastructure are the main driving forces behind the unequal access to interventions that are crucial to achieving UHC by 2030. Finally, financial risk protection analysis shows that the poor are less likely to use healthcare services, and, once they do, they are at a greater risk of suffering financial catastrophe. Limitations of this study revolve around its correlational, rather than causal, nature.CONCLUSIONS:
We suggest a 2-pronged approach to help Myanmar achieve UHC Government and state authorities should reduce the financial burden of seeking healthcare, and, coupled with this, significant investment in and expansion of health infrastructure and the health workforce should be made, particularly in the poorer and more remote states.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Cobertura Universal del Seguro de Salud
Tipo de estudio:
Evaluation_studies
Aspecto:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
/
Equity_inequality
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
PLoS Med
Asunto de la revista:
MEDICINA
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido