Population growth, an unfinished agenda of communicable diseases and maternal health and nutrition, and the rapid rise of Non-communicable diseases are putting increasing strain on not just the Ministry of Health budget, but also the broader financial position of the government as a whole. These...

Samoa currently faces two important public policy challenges in the health sector. One is to stem, and then reverse, the rapid rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The second challenge is to put the country on a health-financing path that is effective, efficient, and financially affordable...

Indonesia launched the national health insurance program - Jaminan Kesehatan National (JKN), on January 1, 2014, and aims to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) by 2019. Achieving UHC means not only increasing the number of people covered but also expanding the benefits package and ensuring...

New forms of aid, including “philanthrocapitalism” such as The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, are rapidly altering the international aid architecture for health. These organisations have financial power, actively shape agendas and influence policy. The rise of non-traditional donor...

Books reviewed: Joseph E. Stiglitz and Shahid Yusuf (eds) Rethinking the East Asian Miracle Hal Hill and Jo-o M. Saldanha, East Timor: Development Challenges for the World's Newest Nation Nat J. Colletta, Teck Ghee Lim and Anita Kelles-Viitanen (eds), Social Cohesion and Conflict Prevention in...

This paper analyzes smoking prevalence and smoking behaviors in Papua New Guinea. Using the 2009?10 Papua New Guinea Household Income and Expenditure Survey, the paper analyzes the determinants of tobacco use and tobacco choices in Papua New Guinea. The results show that adults (18 years and...

New forms of aid, including “philanthrocapitalism” such as The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, are rapidly altering the international aid architecture for health. These organisations have financial power, actively shape agendas and influence policy. The rise of non-traditional donor...

This paper analyzes smoking prevalence and smoking behaviors in Papua New Guinea. Using the 2009–10 Papua New Guinea Household Income and Expenditure Survey, the paper analyzes the determinants of tobacco use and tobacco choices in Papua New Guinea. The results show that adults (18 years and...

Books reviewed: Michael Borowitz, Elizabeth Wiley, Fadia Saadah and Enis Baris, Addressing HIV/AIDS in East Asia and the Pacific Paul Glewwe, Nisha Agrawal and David Dollar (eds), Economic Growth, Poverty, and Household Welfare in Vietnam Will Martin and Mari Pangestu, Options for Global Trade...