Towards Universal Health Care in Emerging Economies

Abstract

Thirteen papers explore how eight emerging economies are moving toward universal health care, what accounts for the diverse outcomes of that move, and the theories and frameworks useful to understanding these countries' experiences. Papers discuss the continuing enigmas of social policy; universalism and health--the battle of ideas; the politics of health-care reform in Thailand; the impacts of universalization--a case study on Thailand's social protection and universal health coverage; political and institutional drivers of social-security universalization in Brazil; universalizing health care in Brazil--opportunities and challenges; the question of what kind of welfare state is emerging in China; China's universal health-care coverage; constraints on universal health care in the Russian Federation--inequality, informality, and the failures of mandatory health-insurance reforms; the fragmented social-protection system in India--five key rights, but two missing; the drivers of universal health care in South Africa--the role of ideas, actors, and institutions; social policy in Venezuela--whether it is bucking neoliberalism or unsustainable clientelism; and expanding social security in Indonesia--the current processes and challenges. Yi is Senior Research Coordinator at UNRISD. Index.