The importance of having access to care options and being able to finance this has been laid bare through the experience of the COVID-19 health emergency. While most countries have public options for long-term care and health care, these are not always comprehensive and may not support the needs...

In developing countries, 6 out of 10 people die from infectious diseases. Nearly 1 billion humans suffer from a neglected infectious disease, according to the World Health Organisation. Yet less than 1% of the new drugs placed on the market from 1975 to the turn of the century were developed for...

This report, based on a series of initial interviews, and augmented by an extensive survey to which 25 countries in total responded, describes policies and practices adopted by countries to address a number of challenges that are specific to oncology medicines.

How can we measure the performance of different health systems, and how can we use such information to support on-going health systems improvement? Those are the central questions addressed in this volume. Health policy makers have a growing interest in finding ways of encouraging health systems...

This paper argues that there is a need for competition agencies to become more active and effective advocates for the use of choice and competition in publicly funded healthcare markets. It suggests that the need for strong regulation will not shrink or disappear, as it might do in a utility,...

All OECD countries have established vaccination programmes based on their interpretation of the risks and benefits of each vaccine. There is strong evidence that vaccines provide safe and effective protection against diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), and measles....

Influenza is a common infectious disease that affects many people. Most people with influenza recover quickly, but elderly people and those with chronic medical conditions are at higher risk of complications and even death. Influenza vaccination rate refers to the number of people aged 65 and...