International Perspectives and Experiences Enhancing Access to Healthcare

Access to healthcare is a straightforward concept: either we can receive high-quality healthcare when needed, or we cannot. While this concept is simple, reality is much more complex. Many people cannot afford good healthcare, even if they have health insurance. Others live in areas where vaccines, doctors, hospitals, and other health services are in short supply, and these supply constraints continue to grow. Still, others find it hard to make appointments for care, especially if they must travel long distances or miss work to attend those appointments. The inability to accommodate patient needs has been problematic for decades, and sometimes for much longer, in many parts of the world. In this book, authors from around the globe describe innovative approaches for improving access to health care. Their entrepreneurial spirit, knowledge, and sheer grit in the face of complex challenges are admirable and demonstrable. Policymakers, healthcare providers, payers, and patients will find valuable insights and actionable strategies in this volume for addressing access barriers and ensuring timely care. Readers are encouraged to explore these and other groundbreaking approaches, using the lessons learned here to improve healthcare access and enhance lives worldwide.