Azerbaijan among countries to join ADB’s new healthcare network

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is considering technical assistance for a new regional initiative titled “Accelerating and Sustaining Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through the UHC Practitioners and Experts, Exchange and Resources (UHC PEERS) Network.” 

According to ADB, the program will span 43 countries, including Azerbaijan, with $495,000 expected to be allocated from the bank’s Special Technical Assistance Fund, Caliber.Az reports per local media. 

The project is designed to support national efforts toward achieving universal health coverage. As part of the initiative, ADB plans to establish the UHC PEERS network, bringing together practitioners and policy specialists to exchange experience and jointly develop solutions for healthcare challenges.

Technical assistance activities will include creating a repository of best practices related to UHC implementation; developing new solutions such as gender-oriented digital tools; facilitating peer-to-peer knowledge exchange between countries; and strengthening capacity through networks and professional alliances, including with private-sector participation. The project also envisions new online platforms for sharing information.

Although UHC is a key component of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, many countries in Asia and the Pacific remain behind target. The regional UHC coverage index rose from 45 to 68 points between 2000 and 2021, but progress has slowed significantly, with only a three-point increase between 2015 and 2021 and no growth after 2019.

ADB points to several persistent challenges: low coverage among informal sector workers, service quality gaps, weak digital and AI adoption, fraud risks, outdated provider payment systems, high out-of-pocket spending—exceeding 40% in many countries—and low average annual healthcare expenditures of about $40 per person, far below the WHO-recommended minimum of $86.

“The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated the situation: in 2021, basic medical services were disrupted in 92% of countries, and 25 million children did not receive vaccinations. Countries with more resilient UHC systems weathered the crisis better,” the bank emphasizes.

ADB also highlights the need for stronger private-sector engagement. While concerns about competition persist, the bank considers private participation an important pillar for building sustainable health systems. Through the technical assistance package, countries will receive guidance on UHC development and implementation, improving service accessibility and quality, and using a regional knowledge platform.

Azerbaijan has been an ADB member since 1999. Over that time, the bank has invested about $5.6 billion in the country—$4.4 billion in the public sector and $1.2 billion in the private sector. Transportation and energy are the largest areas of financing, with $1.5 billion and $1.7 billion respectively. Under its new partnership strategy, ADB is prepared to invest up to $2.5 billion in Azerbaijan.

Established in 1966 and headquartered in Manila, ADB brings together 69 shareholder countries, 50 of which are from the Asia-Pacific region.

By Sabina Mammadli