Health / Universal Health Coverage

Universal Health Coverage

Former Initiative
Overview

Waiting for Health

While health spending has increased dramatically around the world, access to quality health services—without the risk of financial hardship—has lagged. And although health systems increasingly serve as buffers between vulnerable communities and crises, many countries still lack the capacity to meet daily health needs, let alone anticipate, address, and recover from health shocks down the line.

Launched in 2009, our Transforming Health Systems initiative focused on improving the health status and financial resilience of poor and otherwise vulnerable populations through activities promoting improved health systems performance and the expansion of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

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Members of the Joint Learning Network
for Universal Health Coverage
  • 1/2

    of the world lacks access to essential health services

  • 800million

    people spend more than 10% of their budget on health

  • 100million

    people fall into poverty each year accessing health services

OUR APPROACH

We worked across the global, regional and country levels to support UHC policy, promote cross-learning and innovation in low- and middle-income countries and address constraints to achieving UHC.

Our work spanned the global, regional and country levels, utilizing three core strategies − Global UHC Advocacy, Regional Networks for Cross-Learning and Collaboration, and Supporting Country Models for Change. These core strategies aimed to create broad access to affordable, quality health services in developing countries and help contribute to greater resilience.

Global UHC Advocacy

At the global level, we focused on research and agenda-setting to support adoption of UHC as a policy goal among global and country actors. We championed new policy to support health system strengthening, encourage UHC inclusion into national agendas, engage with key milestones and foster new platforms, coalitions and partnerships to build and sustain momentum.

Universal Health Coverage pamphlets laying on a table.
women who appear to be healthcare workers sitting at desks.

Regional Networks for Cross-Learning & Collaboration

At the regional level, we focused on creating and supporting networks that promote cross-learning, innovation, and collaboration to advance health system reform efforts in LMICs. We facilitate the creation of networks that address critical gaps in global knowledge generation and collaboration, allow for cross-learning and collaboration and develop practical tools and resources, or “global public goods.” To build lasting momentum, we placed additional emphasis on the role of the private sector in health, the potential of eHealth and the power of global networks.

Supporting Country Models for Change

At the country level, we worked to address key binding constraints to achieving UHC in four focus countries that could serve as models for change−Bangladesh, Ghana, Rwanda and Vietnam. In these locations, we worked to advance nascent or slow-moving reform efforts, increase understanding of the UHC concept, and position countries for long-term progress on health system priorities.

women gathered outside their homes talking.
  • Health is the most fundamental human right on which all other rights can be enjoyed. Universal Health Coverage is its guarantee.
    Dr. Githinji Gitahi
    UHC Day 2018 Global CEO, Amref Health Africa Co-chair, UHC 2030 Steering Committee
Milestone Tracking

Our Goals

We aimed to catalyze innovations and actions that create broader access to affordable, quality health services in developing countries and help contribute to greater resilience. Specifically, we worked to establish UHC as right, smart and overdue; rally a global chorus of enthusiastic advocates; empower practitioners to share learnings and catalyze urgent action on UHC across the world.

  • 267

    leading economists from 44 countries endorsed UHC as a smart investment for every country

  • 1000+

    UHC Coalition Members assemble each year on International UHC Day, December 12th

  • 34

    members of the Joint Learning Network have agreed to share ideas and best practices

Our work has had significant impact on the movement toward UHC, notably through the creation of the Joint Learning Network and the inclusion of universal health coverage in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the post-2015 agenda. The establishment of UHC as a global development target and the creation of new networks and coalitions to support UHC reform efforts in low- and middle-income countries have the potential to have country-level impact for years to come. 

 

Since the launch of the Universal Health Coverage Coalition in 2014, “the Coalition” has become the world’s largest and most inclusive civil society platform advocating for stronger, more equitable health systems. The UHC Coalition continues to play a critical role in keeping civil society energized, holding leaders accountable, and supporting initiatives such as the International Health Partnership for UHC 2030. 

 

Following the inauguration of the first UHC Day on 12 December 2014, the United Nations designated 12 December as International UHC Day in 2017. Each year, passionate advocates across the globe have mobilized to hold leaders accountable to their promise of Health for All. On 23 December 2019, the UN convened the first High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage, where world leaders adopted the Political Declaration of the High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage, committing to advance towards UHC by investing in four major areas around primary health care. 

 

Related Stories

Learn more about the history of the UHC movement through these visual explorations.

The Story of Health for All

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Waiting For Health

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Current Health Initiative

Precision Public Health

Improving health outcomes through equitable, data-driven health systems in communities around the world

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