Financial protection analysis in eight countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region

The study was made to document the financial protection status of eight countries of the South-East Asian region and to investigate the main components of out-of-pocket expenditure on health care. A substantial number of people in South-East Asia experienced financial hardship due to out-of-pocket spending on health. Several countries have introduced policies to make medicines more available, but the finding that out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines remains high indicates that further action is needed to support progress towards universal health coverage.