We are pleased to announce that a Regional Knowledge Event on The Strategic Role of Private Health Insurance for Health System Goals and to Advance Universal Health Coverage is to be held on 7 May 2025 in HONG KONG by the Asia Pacific Network for Health Systems Strengthening (ANHSS) in collaboration with the Centre for Health Systems and Policy Research at the Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Date: 7 May 2025

Time: 09:00-17:30 (Hong Kong time)

Venue: Alva Hotel by Royal, 1 Yuen Hong Street, Shatin, Hong Kong

Private Health Insurance (PHI), purchased by individuals to supplement, complement or substitute public financing, plays a role in protecting individuals from unexpected and catastrophic medical expenses. However, due to its lower coverage and participation rates, it has often been overlooked as a tool to advance health system goals. Policymakers worldwide are increasingly looking towards innovative and supplementary funding sources like PHI to ease the financial pressures and growing deficits faced in the single-payer public sector as a result of global population aging and rise in non-communicable diseases. Given the challenges in the global market, a critical discussion on PHI’s role in achieving health system goals and advancing UHC is both timely and necessary.

This event will provide a comprehensive overview of PHI’s strategic role in the context of health system goals across the Asia-Pacific region, featuring insights, experiences and sharing from policymakers, regulators, economists, insurers, industry members, health sectors managers and practitioners working with the private sector.

The Regional Knowledge Event is by invitation only. If you are interested to apply for the Knowledge Event, you can contact Ms. MIAO Ho Yee at +852 2252 8783 (hoyeemiao@cuhk.edu.hk) for registration.

More details

Regional Knowledge Event – Flyer | Agenda

3-day Policy Course

In addition to the Knowledge Event, for those who are interested to further advance understanding on the role of private sector, we offer a 3-day Policy Course on Private Sector Engagement for Health System Goals and to Advance Universal Health Coverage from 6-8 May 2025. The course will provide an overview of private sector engagement from the perspectives of stakeholders including policymakers, regulators, economists and insurers. The engagement of players in the private sector involved in the procurement, provision and assessment of services will be explored where the patient’s experiences of access to care and financial protection in the private sector will be discussed. One such actor that enables access to care in the private sector is Private Health Insurance (PHI), purchased by individuals to supplement, complement, or substitute public health financing methods. PHI plays a critical role in protecting individuals from financial risks, particularly against catastrophic medical expenses. The business and regulatory environments will also be explored to understand the needs of commercial operators and regulators so private actors can effectively contribute to overall health financing whilst maintaining profitability in their core business activities. Case studies on country experiences of private sector engagement based on the different health system designs will be presented for learning.

The Schedule of Policy Course is as follows:

Day 1: Focus on the perspectives of financing, care provision, and healthcare assessment in the private sector.

Day 2: Regional Knowledge Event featuring distinguished guests, faculty members and industry experts.

Day 3: Private hospital visit.

Registration Fee for the Policy Course

The standard tuition fee for the course (6-8 May, 2025) is USD 200. This fee includes tuition, course material, one field visit, coffee breaks and lunch during the days of the training.

Participants (or their funding agency) will be responsible for covering the costs of travel, health and accident insurance, accommodation, and other expenses while in Hong Kong.

An early bird fee of USD 150 per person will apply for participants whose payments are received before 7 April 2025. [Extended to 14 April 2025]

Please fill the registration link for the Policy Course below:

https://cuhk.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bpW0lqkwuwfp2bs

For more enquiries, please contact Ms. MIAO Ho Yee at +852 2252 8783 (hoyeemiao@cuhk.edu.hk).

3-day Policy Course – Flyer and Agenda