Abstract

This study explores key ideas needed in the current debate on the development of healthcare schemes and programs against poverty in four selected Southeast Asian countries; Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. It also traces the reasons why some of these countries have failed to achieve relative pro-poor growth through healthcare schemes. Using the poverty line of the four selected countries and Panel Data Analysis, the present study found that in Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam, poor people do not benefit from the healthcare services provided by the government. In Vietnam the situation is even worse as the results showed that an increase in government expenditure on health led to increased poverty incidences. One of the possibilities for this to occur is that when government increases expenditure in healthcare sector, this causes a trade-off in other logistic sectors.

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