Universal health coverage
Universal health coverage (UHC) means that all people have access to
the full range of quality health services they need, when and where they need
them, without financial hardship. It covers the full continuum of essential
health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation
and palliative care.
Every country has a different path to achieving UHC and deciding
what to cover based on the needs of their people and the resources at hand. However, the importance of access to health services and information as a basic human
right is universal.
To make health for all a reality, all people must have access to
high quality services for their health and the health of their families and
communities. To do so, skilled health workers providing quality, people-centred
care; and policy-makers committed to investing in universal health coverage are
essential.
Universal
health coverage requires strong, people-centred primary health care. Good
health systems are rooted in the communities they serve. They focus not only on
preventing and treating disease and illness, but also on helping to improve
well-being and quality of life.
As a foundation for UHC, WHO recommends reorienting health
systems using a primary health care (PHC) approach. Achieving UHC is a WHO strategic
priority, with the goal of 1 billion more people benefitting from universal
health coverage by 2025.
In countries with fragile health systems, we focus on technical
assistance to build national institutions and service delivery to fill critical
gaps in emergencies. In more robust health system settings, we drive public
health impact towards health coverage for all through policy dialogue for the
systems of the future and strategic support to improve performance.
This work is supported by normative guidance and agreements;
data, research and innovation; and leadership in the realms of diplomacy,
advocacy, gender equality, health equity and human rights, multisectoral
action, and finance.
WHO’s work is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
target 3.8, which focuses on achieving universal health coverage, including
financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and
access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and
vaccines for all.
The UHC service coverage index (SDG indicator 3.8.1) increased
from 45 in 2000 to 68 in 2019, and then stagnated through 2021, depriving millions of people of live-saving and health-enhancing interventions. About 2 billion people are facing catastrophic or
impoverishing health spending (SDG indicator 3.8.2) and inequalities continue
to be a fundamental challenge for UHC as aggregated data masks within-country
inequalities in service coverage.
The COVID-19 pandemic further disrupted services and exacerbated
financial hardship and inequities.
WHO has a range of evidence-informed approaches and tools to
support countries get back on track towards the progressive realization of UHC
and Health for All.
