Background The diagnosis-intervention packet (DIP) payment reform, utilizing big data for patient classification and payment standardization, was initially developed and piloted in China. Guangzhou, the pilot mega-city, rolled out DIP payment reform in 2018 to regulate medical expenditures. We...

Innovation is considered essential to the quality and sustainability of healthcare systems. However, the path from innovative idea to adopted reality is complex and fraught with barriers. The way in which healthcare innovations are financed is often mentioned as a major stumbling block, but a...

Historic underinvestment, coupled with a growing and ageing population, has led to capacity constraints in public acute hospitals in Ireland. This is evidenced by ageing infrastructure, large waiting lists and long waiting times for elective treatment, as well as pressure on unscheduled care...

Prolonged hospital stays, or hospital stays that are longer than medically necessary, are a major concern for patients, payers, and providers. We conceptualize and empirically estimate the prevalence and cost of prolonged stays among elderly hospital patients (65 years and older) in Brazil and...

Background Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is a central component of the Sustainable Development Goals, and integrated healthcare is recognized as a key pathway to achieving UHC. China's healthcare reform, aimed at real- izing the "Healthy China 2035" goal, faces challenges in ensuring the...

The Colombian Ministry of Health's decision to increase the health insurance premium (Capitation Payment Unit) by 5.36% for 2025, close to the inflation rate, has sparked controversy. This adjustment disregards factors that contribute to rising healthcare costs, leading to concerns over the...