The 2024 Global Heath Expenditure Report by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that the average per capita government spending on health in all country income groups fell in 2022 from a year ago, after a surge in the early pandemic years.

Government spending on health is crucial to delivering universal health coverage. Its deprioritisation can have dire consequences, when 4.5 billion people worldwide lack access to basic health services and 2 billion people face financial hardship due to health costs.

The WHO report showed that out-of-pocket spending remained the main source of health financing in 30 low- and lower middle-income countries. In 20 of these countries, more than half of the health cost was paid by patients, which contributes to the cycle of poverty and vulnerability. In high-income countries, too, out-of-pocket payments lead to financial hardship and unmet need, particularly among the poorest households.