Microinsurance grows in Colombia

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Some insurance companies are offering microinsurance for the poor, especially for health matters, meant to protect the poor against financial disasters caused by illness, death or crop failure. One of the places where microinsurance is taking off is Colombia. Reporter John Otis has the story from Barranquilla, Colombia. Download MP3

Foreign lessons in hospital efficiency

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Containing health-care costs is a key goal of reform efforts. The World’s Katy Clark reports on the work of Eugene Litvak, a Russian who works with US hospitals on ways to increase efficiency, improve patient care, and cut costs.

Health care and innovation

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The American health care system is expensive, but also highly innovative, providing new drugs and new technologies that benefit the entire world. Could U.S. health reform efforts suppress medical innovation? The World’s Marco Werman speaks with health policy researcher Zack Cooper of the London School of Economics. Download MP3

• BBC coverage of the health care debate
• Zack Cooper’s LSE profile