Review of the Mongolian health system and reforms since its transition - This report, published by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, describes the Mongolian health system and the reforms and policy initiatives in progress. It covers issues including financing, planning and regulation, physical and human resources, provision of services, and principal health care reforms. At the beginning of the 1990s, the abrupt end of assistance to the health sector from the Soviet Union brought about extreme difficulties in financing health care, and the deteriorating socio-economic situation and public-funding shortfall for the health sector exacerbated problems with access and service quality. User fees and social health insurance have been gradually introduced in order to mobilise additional financial resources and reduce the government’s burden in financing health care. Recent reforms have focused on promoting equity through institutional changes and improvements in quality and efficiency. The report concludes that over the transition period, the Mongolian health system has evolved into a system with a mix of revenue sources, private sector service delivery and a plurality of actors. It has had success in reducing the infant mortality rate, the under-five mortality rate, the maternal mortality rate and infections from vaccine-preventable diseases. However, the leading cause of mortality is now non-communicable diseases and health services have not yet adjusted sufficiently to the new burden of disease. Despite the reform efforts, there is growing public dissatisfaction with and distrust of existing health care services. [By T. Bolormaa; Ts. Natsafdorj; B. Tumurbat,European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, 2007]