The SAPPHIRE Secretariat is pleased to announce that the Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study (HIAS), led by Dr. Phuong The Nguyen and Dr. Ryota Nakamura, has been selected as the SAPPHIRE grant awardee through an internal call for proposals and a careful review process. The awarded study is on “Towards Resilient Health Financing for Prevention and Health Promotion in Aging Asia”.
According to Dr. Phuong, “This project examines how health financing systems can better protect aging populations across Asia.” He noted that the research combines two complementary approaches. First, it compares countries using international data from sources such as WHO and the World Bank to understand how financing patterns relate to health outcomes and financial protection. Second, it conducts in-depth analyses in Vietnam, Bhutan, and Japan using household survey data and administrative records to examine out-of-pocket spending, catastrophic health expenditure, and inequalities among older adults.
The findings are expected to directly inform policy discussions on Universal Health Coverage by identifying practical strategies to strengthen prevention and improve financial protection, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. As Dr. Phuong highlighted, the study aims to translate its findings into actionable policy recommendations across diverse health system contexts.
Collaboration within the SAPPHIRE network will be central to the project. By working closely with policymakers, researchers, and country partners through stakeholder consultations, the study aims to co-produce evidence and support the translation of findings into practical recommendations for the region.
This project is supported by the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation (PMU-B) through the Unlocking Networking, Initiatives, Training, and Expertise (UNITE) initiative for Thailand’s leadership in public health and HTA, which aims to bridge international networks for building local capacity and research excellence more sustainably.
On behalf of the SAPPHIRE Secretariat, we thank everyone who contributed to this meaningful process of generating ideas and strengthening collaboration within the SAPPHIRE consortium. We look forward to sharing updates as the awarded project progresses and to supporting continued collaboration across the SAPPHIRE network. Congratulations again to HIAS as the grant awardee!
