In the spotlight on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging governments worldwide to channel investments into fortifying health systems. The overarching goal is to ensure the health and well-being of people across the globe, particularly in the face of escalating challenges such as climate change, emergencies, and other disruptions.
Living in a world fraught with uncertainties, over 40% of the global population resides in regions highly vulnerable to climate change, while more than a quarter grapple with protracted conflicts, poverty, and limited access to basic healthcare. The ripple effects of these challenges are profound, as exemplified by the staggering 360 million people grappling with humanitarian crises globally.
Alarming statistics reveal that half of the world’s population lacks full coverage for essential health services, with 2 billion people confronting financial hardships due to out-of-pocket health expenditures. Urgent action is imperative to bridge these gaps and prevent further disparities.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, underscores the fundamental right to health, emphasizing that universal health coverage is the linchpin to realizing this right. He advocates for investments in resilient health systems, anchored in robust primary health care, as the most inclusive, equitable, and cost-effective route to achieving universal health coverage.
Essential to mitigating the global disease burden and averting millions of preventable deaths annually, resilient health systems are vital in navigating the challenges posed by the climate crisis, environmental risks, and complex health emergencies.
WHO is actively collaborating with nations to shift health systems toward a primary health care approach, targeting the delivery of 90% of essential health services and aiming to save 60 million lives by 2030—a significant stride towards UHC.
On December 11, leading up to UHC Day, a youth-led advocacy campaign commenced, engaging parliamentarians in a pledge for Health for All. This 100-day initiative, launched by the WHO Youth Council, UHC2030, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, empowers young advocates to pose questions and share perspectives on catalyzing UHC reforms globally.
Additionally, WHO unveiled the 2023 Global Health Expenditure Report, shedding light on global health spending during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite reaching a record high of US$ 9.8 trillion in 2021, spending distribution remains highly unequal, with low-income countries disproportionately affected.
To underscore the significance of health service quality, WHO, the World Bank, and the British Medical Journal (BMJ) released a collection of articles emphasizing that quality should be a paramount focus, not just an afterthought. The authors call for increased investments and political attention to quality issues, positioning them as a cornerstone of universal health coverage.
As world leaders committed to redoubling efforts for UHC by 2030 through a political declaration in September 2023, the imperative now lies in translating these commitments into tangible investments in resilient health systems. Universal health coverage remains the linchpin for providing accessible health services without financial hardship, striving for a healthier and more equitable global future.
