On 12 December 2012, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) endorsed a resolution urging countries to accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as an essential priority for international development. Since then, UHC has become a foundational element of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), officially recognized with an annual UHC Day every December 12.
However, with the 2030 deadline fast approaching, over half the world’s population still lacks access to essential health services, and 2 billion face financial hardship due to out-of-pocket expenses (WHO and World Bank). Without immediate, coordinated action, UHC goals may remain unmet, leaving billions vulnerable to preventable or treatable health issues and impoverishing health costs. Investing in resilient and equitable health systems, through a primary health care approach, is among the best investments countries can make to end health-care related poverty, improve education, increase gender equality, and strengthen national economies.
This year’s UHC Day theme, Health: It’s on the government, centers on advocating for national policies and reforms that reduce financial barriers to essential health services. This topic is particularly relevant as the world faces financial instability, climate change, and increased health emergencies, all of which demand stronger, more inclusive health systems. The 2024 UHC Day campaign calls for governments to take bold steps to implement the commitments they made at the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on UHC. It underscores a central message: health is a human right, and people should be protected from the threat of poverty when trying to exercise this right by accessing health services for which they have to pay out of their own pockets. In many parts of the world, out-of-pocket health costs push millions into poverty or prevent them from seeking medical care.
The 2024 UHC Day campaign reminds governments that health is good for people and the economy and urges them to ensure that healthcare is not a financial burden on individuals, but a guaranteed right upheld by national policies. Specifically, the campaign calls on governments to create laws, budgets and programs that healthcare is always affordable or free, particularly for the poorest and most vulnerable populations. The desired outcome is a shift toward systems where financial protection is a key focus of healthcare policies and budgets, ensuring that even the most marginalized populations can access quality care and products.
Investing in UHC provides considerable economic benefits, improving community resilience, and social cohesion. Healthier populations also participate more fully in the workforce, enhancing productivity and driving economic growth. According to estimates, 24 million deaths could be avoided by ensuring UHC for 1 billion more people, and each year of life expectancy gained raises GDP by about 4%.
“Nobody should have to choose between health care and other essential needs like food, shelter or education. Greater financial protection for health must be a priority alongside access to services. Government investment in UHC not only protects individuals from impoverishing healthcare costs but also generates substantial economic and social benefits.” -Dr. Pamela Cipriano, co-chair of the UHC2030 Steering Committee
“I call on advocates to urge decision-makers, including Ministers of Health, Ministers of Finance and parliamentarians, to take bold actions to protect everyone – and particularly people in vulnerable and marginalized situations – from financial hardship and impoverishing health costs.” -Dr. Magda Robalo, co-chair of the UHC2030 Steering Committee
Despite being off track for achieving UHC by 2030, progress is feasible as demonstrated by the 40 or so countries which have been able to reduce the percentage of households spending more than 10% of their income on health (GMR report, 2023). Let's learn from the experience in these countries.
Over the next two weeks, organizations, and advocates worldwide can amplify calls for financial protection for health by promoting their activities to the global UHC Day heat map, and using the resources on the UHC day toolkit and the #UHCDay hashtag to promote these messages on social media. Advocates can also join our advocacy letter campaign to remind decision-makers in their countries of their responsibility to protect the right to health.
When populations are healthy, communities and economies prosper. So, this UHC Day, join us in urging leaders to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can access the health services they need without falling into poverty.
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