Expanding Financial Protection to Underserved and Socially Excluded Populations: A Global Evidence Review

The project works with partner countries and stakeholders to reduce financial barriers to care, ensure equitable access to health services, and improve health system quality. The LHSS project will build local capacity to sustain strong health system performance, supporting countries on their journey to self-reliance and prosperity. The project focuses on expanding financial protection to underserved and socially excluded populations. A global evidence review was conducted to identify effective interventions to address financial barriers to care. The review analyzed research papers on various interventions, including government schemes, community-based health insurance, and cash transfers. Government schemes were identified as a key strategy to expand financial protection. Conditional cash transfer programs, contracting, and government reimbursement of medical expenses were among the interventions analyzed. The review also examined social health insurance, including alternative means of paying premiums and co-payments, and the inclusion of private sector participation. Community-based health insurance was found to be an effective approach to expanding financial protection. This approach involves community members pooling their resources to purchase health insurance, which can help reduce out-of-pocket expenditures. The review also highlighted the importance of linking health insurance to other poverty reduction programs. Cash transfers, including conditional, loans/in-credits, and unconditional transfers, were also analyzed. The review found that these interventions can help reduce financial barriers to care and improve health outcomes. The LHSS project aims to support LMICs in developing effective health systems that are responsive to the needs of underserved and socially excluded populations. The project will work with partner countries and stakeholders to implement evidence-based interventions to expand financial protection and improve health system quality. The project's focus on building local capacity to sustain strong health system performance is critical to achieving self-reliance and prosperity. By supporting LMICs in developing effective health systems, the LHSS project can help reduce financial barriers to care and improve health outcomes for underserved and socially excluded populations. The review's findings highlight the importance of evidence-based interventions in expanding financial protection. The LHSS project will work with partner countries and stakeholders to implement these interventions, ensuring that health systems are responsive to the needs of all populations. The LHSS project's focus on expanding financial protection to underserved and socially excluded populations is critical to achieving universal health coverage. The project's approach to building local capacity to sustain strong health system performance is essential to achieving self-reliance and prosperity.