In commemoration of International Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and its Member States in the South-East Asia Region emphasize the critical need to expedite progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage, with primary health care at its core.
Eleven years ago, on this day, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), under the guidance of the countries in our Region, sanctioned a pioneering resolution urging all nations to accelerate their journey toward UHC. In 2015, UHC emerged as the foundational principle of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals.
With seven years remaining in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, global strides in service coverage have decelerated compared to pre-2015 advancements. Presently, a staggering 4.5 billion people lack full coverage for essential health services, marking little or no progress since 2019. Financial protection trends are also troubling, as an estimated 2 billion individuals grapple with financial hardships due to out-of-pocket expenditures. In response to these challenges, Heads of State and Government, expressing concern over limited progress and investment in UHC, pledged to intensify national and international efforts at the UNGA in September 2023.
At the regional level, the South-East Asia Region has designated UHC as a Flagship Priority since 2014. Over the past decade, significant UHC-related reforms have been implemented, showcasing notable gains. Between 2015 and 2021, the Region elevated its UHC service coverage index from 54 to 62. During the period from 2014 to 2020, the share of public investment increased, and out-of-pocket health spending as a share of current health spending decreased from 42.8% to 37.9%. Despite these advancements, the progress remains insufficient to meet the UHC SDG targets, particularly concerning noncommunicable diseases, which contribute to nearly two-thirds of all deaths in the Region.
Amidst global turbulence marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, ongoing conflicts, economic challenges, demographic transitions, climate crises, and emerging pathogens, the imperative to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage is more critical than ever. Member countries in the Region acknowledge this urgency and are committed to reinforcing primary health care as the cornerstone of their approach to UHC.
A significant milestone was achieved a little over a month ago during the WHO SEA Region 76th Regional Committee Session when Ministers of Health adopted the “Delhi Declaration on strengthening primary health care as a key element towards achieving universal health coverage” (SEA RC/76/R3). This declaration underscores the commitment to reorient health service delivery based on a life cycle approach, prioritize primary health care in health budgets, and enhance accountability and monitoring systems at national and sub-national levels.
The pursuit of health for all has been a longstanding aspiration for the Region. Despite the challenges, the goal is within reach, with countries demonstrating the way forward through political commitment and action. As we progress, a concerted effort to identify and address health inequities, with the active involvement of affected communities, must remain at the forefront. WHO reiterates its unwavering commitment to supporting a South-East Asia Region where all individuals can access quality health services without enduring financial hardships, paving the way for a healthier, more just, and prosperous world.
