Can people afford to pay for health care? Evidence on inequity in financial protection in Europe

Abstract

Abstract Governments have repeatedly affirmed their commitment to meeting the goals of universal health coverage (UHC) – to ensure that everyone can use the quality health services they need without experiencing financial hardship. In spite of strong political commitment to UHC, research from the WHO Regional Office for Europe shows that: This session aims to raise awareness about the most prevalent gaps in coverage in European health systems, the policies that cause them and what countries can do to address them. It will draw on findings from an updated version of the WHO study ‘Can people afford to pay for health care? New evidence on financial protection in Europe’, which covers over 35 countries in Europe, including all EU member states and many middle-income countries The session will highlight common gaps in coverage that systematically harm people with low incomes: The session will focus on how to make progress by: Keynote speaker: Charles Normand Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland Panellists: Sarah Thomson WHO Europe Kaisa Immonen European Patients' Forum (EPF)