This review looked at different ways to pay for healthcare in low- and middle-income countries across Africa and Asia. The researchers analyzed 24 sources to see which payment models best help people get medical care without facing extreme costs. They specifically looked at tax-based systems, subsidized insurance, and community-based programs.
The findings show that tax-based funding and subsidized insurance are the most consistent ways to expand coverage and protect people financially. However, these methods work best when they have enough public funding and include large groups of people. In contrast, voluntary or out-of-pocket systems were linked to weaker financial protection for patients.
It is important to note that changing how a country pays for health does not automatically fix the system. The review notes that success also depends on having enough workers, available services, and good management. While donor funding and community programs can help, they are often not large enough to be the main solution on their own.
