Improving Sustainable Financing for Universal Health Coverage in Bhutan:
Exploring Policy Options and Financial Strategies
Abstract
Deeply rooted in its developmental philosophy of gross national
happiness (GNH), Bhutan’s healthcare system strives towards achieving a
shared goal of universal health coverage (UHC). Despite being primarily
financed by the government, the healthcare system faces a plethora of
challenges. To overcome these hurdles and achieve UHC goals, expanding
the fiscal space for health and improving operational efficiency is
crucial. This policy brief aims to address Bhutan’s evolving healthcare
landscape and advance the achievement of UHC through two policy options.
The first policy option focuses on dual objective of improving health
outcomes and promoting financial sustainability by leveraging heath
taxes, while the second option emphasises reinforcing a systematic
Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in the healthcare system. First, to
promote financial sustainability, the proposal suggests introducing
earmarked taxes on alcohol and tobacco products for the health sector.
Global evidence suggests that earmarked taxes are a reliable source of
revenue for health, and Bhutan’s high prevalence of tobacco and alcohol
consumers assures a reliable revenue base. The Goods and Services Tax
(GST) will be implemented in 2024, and it will be a good opportunity for
the Ministry of Health to advocate and negotiate with Ministry of
Finance (MoF) for the earmarked taxes to the health sector. Second,
integration of HTA into policymaking and decision-making processes is
essential for effective resource allocation in UHC. Nurturing and
strengthening the existing HTA structure under MoH and establishing a
dedicated multidisciplinary HTA Committee will ensure informed
decision-making and resource optimization. HTA evidence should abided to
revise health service standards, develop clinical guidelines, make
procurement decisions, and set healthcare priorities. These policy
options can assist the country in improving ensure financial
sustainability, enhance effective resource allocation and utilisation,
and improve healthcare delivery, aligning with its vision of GNH and
ultimately accelerating progress towards achieving UHC.