Recent Research from Osaka University Highlight Findings in Developing Economies (Analysis On Demand- and Supply-side Responses During the Expansion of Health Insurance Coverage In Vietnam: Challenges and Policy Implications Toward Universal …)

2019 NOV 28 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Research findings on Economics - Developing Economies are discussed in a new report. According to news originating from Osaka, Japan, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “This study examines how the demand and supply of healthcare services have responded to the expansion of health insurance coverage in Vietnam by using biyearly provincial panel data from 2006 to 2014. The results of our analysis indicate significant progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) in Vietnam, with the expansion of health insurance coverage being accompanied by increases in admissions and inpatient days.”

Funders for this research include Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Osaka University of Commerce.

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Osaka University, “However, some concerns remain. Our findings show a positive response of supply capacity only in terms of doctors and nurses at higher-level hospitals (provincial hospitals), and none in other relevant aspects. Moreover, we find no positive response of the number of outpatient visits. Another concern is the issue of financial protection. The decline in out-of-pocket payments is not significant throughout our observation period, suggesting that lowering the cost of healthcare is not straightforward and that the expansion of health insurance coverage alone cannot achieve this.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “We believe that the Vietnamese experience has valuable implications for other emerging and developing countries, considering that the expansion of health insurance coverage is likely to increase utilization of healthcare services significantly and that the supply side needs to be prepared for the increase.”

For more information on this research see: Analysis On Demand- and Supply-side Responses During the Expansion of Health Insurance Coverage In Vietnam: Challenges and Policy Implications Toward Universal Health Coverage. Review of Development Economics, 2019;():. Review of Development Economics can be contacted at: Wiley, 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ, USA. (Wiley-Blackwell - http://www.wiley.com/; Review of Development Economics - http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1467-9361)

The news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained from M. Matsushima, Osaka University, 4-1-10 Mikuriyasakae Machi, Higashiosaka, Osaka 5778505, Japan. Additional authors for this research include H. Yamada and Y. Shimamura.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1111/rode.12627. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

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