In commemoration of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is issuing a resounding call to governments worldwide, urging them to prioritize investments in building robust health systems. This initiative aims to safeguard the health and well-being of all individuals globally.
In an era marked by increasing turbulence, the impact of climate change, emergencies, and other shocks is anticipated to take an even greater toll on health systems and the individuals dependent on them. Currently, over 40% of the global population resides in regions highly vulnerable to climate change, while more than a quarter faces challenges arising from protracted conflict, poverty, and limited access to fundamental health services.
Humanitarian needs have reached unprecedented levels, with 360 million people worldwide requiring assistance. Simultaneously, half of the world’s population lacks full coverage for essential health services, and a staggering 2 billion people grapple with financial hardship or impoverishment due to out-of-pocket health expenditures. Without prompt intervention, these disparities are poised to widen.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized, “WHO was founded 75 years ago on the principle that health is a human right, and the most effective means of realizing that right is through universal health coverage.” He highlighted the imperative of investing in resilient health systems, grounded in robust primary health care, as the most inclusive, equitable, and cost-effective approach to achieving universal health coverage.
Resilient health systems that can effectively respond to shocks are pivotal in reducing the global disease burden, averting millions of additional deaths projected due to the climate crisis, environmental risks, and complex health emergencies.
WHO is actively collaborating with countries to shift health systems toward a primary health care (PHC) model, capable of delivering 90% of essential health services and potentially saving 60 million lives by 2030, thereby accelerating progress toward UHC.
On December 11, in conjunction with UHC Day, WHO and its partners held a series of events. Notably, a 100-day youth-led advocacy campaign was launched, aiming to engage parliamentarians in fulfilling the promise of Health for All. Youth advocates gathered at a town hall meeting hosted by the WHO Youth Council, UHC2030, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. During the event, young individuals posed questions about UHC reforms to a panel of parliamentarians from around the world.
In parallel, WHO unveiled the 2023 Global Health Expenditure Report, shedding light on the evolution of global health spending amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The report revealed that in 2021, global spending on health reached a new high of US$ 9.8 trillion, accounting for 10.3% of the global gross domestic product (GDP). However, spending distribution remained significantly unequal, with low-income countries comprising only 0.24% of global health expenditure, despite representing 8% of the world’s population.
Furthermore, a collaboration between WHO, the World Bank, and the British Medical Journal (BMJ) resulted in the launch of a new collection of articles on healthcare quality. Emphasizing that health service quality should be a priority, even during emergencies, the collection calls for increased investment and political attention to quality issues, positioning them as a cornerstone of universal health coverage.
Universal health coverage, defined as the accessibility of health services without causing financial hardship, was reaffirmed through a political declaration in September 2023. World leaders committed to redoubling their efforts to achieve UHC by 2030, underscoring the imperative to translate these commitments into tangible investments in resilient health systems.
