Universal health coverage not only protects the majority of the population from experiencing catastrophic financial loss as a result of high out-of-pocket costs, but also promotes better quality of services and greater health equity.
The new Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction supports risk transfer and insurance to reduce the financial impact of disasters on governments and societies, especially in vulnerable developing countries.
After the recent catastrophe in Nepal, it’s time for homeowners in Asia and the Pacific to decide whether or not to purchase earthquake insurance. On one hand it could happen tomorrow, on the other it may not happen for another 80 years – so is it a gamble we are willing to take?
Insurance is often viewed as a product of the sophisticated, capitalistic system of the West, and those who are outside this cultural group are less likely to value insurance protection. Asians, who rely on informal insurance such as a family network, are thus typically less focused on buying insurance.
Disaster preparedness should include extending the reach of insurance to cover flooding to help individuals, businesses and governments to get back on their feet more quickly after a disaster strikes.
The sheer speed and scale of Asia’s demographic transition will deprive the region of one of the main drivers of its past economic success.
Enabling new digital financial services models requires an open-minded approach to innovation, with sufficient certainty over the legal framework.
For Asia to assume global leadership in fintech, collaboration between governments and industry players is vital.
Fintech can unleash a new era of innovation, competition, and job-creating productivity. But it will take more than buzzwords to generate meaningful growth.
Blockchain can provide a secure, transparent, and verifiable mechanism to establish provable good faith in insurance transactions.
