Coverage and access

Health coverage is multi-dimensional, involving: who is eligible to access health services, what is available in the benefits package, how much cost-sharing is required and what other barriers impede access to needed care? 

• Population coverage: the share of the resident population that is eligible to access publicly funded health services;
• Scope of coverage: the package of publicly financed benefits (either explicitly listed or based on established precedent) to which those eligible for health care are entitled;
• Breadth of coverage: the out-of-pocket costs people pay, through co-payments or user charges, for services that are not included in the public benefits package or which are only partly reimbursed. 

• limited out-of-hours services or lack of appointment booking tools; 
• having to travel distances to reach services, particularly in rural or remote areas;
• waiting times to see specialists or have a hospital procedure; 
• shortages of health care workers, particularly doctors or nurses, to staff facilities and provide services; and  
• the availability of affordable medicines and medical aids.