A paper by Dr. Masaki Takahashi, Dr. Reo Takaku, and Dr. Yoko Ibuka titled “Public investment on health and voter responses: Evidence from the mass vaccination during COVID-19” has just published in “European Journal of Political Economy”
 
Masaki Takahashi, Reo Takaku, Toyo Ashida, Yoko Ibuka. (2025). Public investment on health and voter responses: Evidence from the mass vaccination during COVID-19. European Journal of Political Economy, Volume 89, 2025, 102718, ISSN 0176-2680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2025.102718.
 
Key message:
Our study looked at how countries in South Asia are moving toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) — meaning everyone can get the health services they need without suffering financial hardship.
We found that primary healthcare coverage has improved and is projected to rise from 53.5% in 2000 to 81.5% by 2030, led by Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
However, financial protection is still lagging — the share of households facing catastrophic health spending (when medical bills exceed 10% of total household expenses) is projected to increase from 7.2% in 2000 to 18.6% by 2030.
To truly achieve UHC, countries need to invest more in strong primary healthcare systems, expand public health financing, and strengthen risk-pooling mechanisms that protect families from financial shocks.
Grateful to my co-authors — Prof. Masako Ii, Prof. Maria Lohan, Prof. Ryuki Kassai, Rabia Awan, Pempa Pempa, and Prof. Motohiro Sato — for this wonderful collaboration.