Priorities

This World Health Day, WHO aims at Universal Health Coverage

This World Health Day, WHO aims at Universal Health Coverage

by Shruthi Venkatesh April 5 2019, 3:21 pm Estimated Reading Time: 2 mins, 18 secs

Observing the World Health Day on 7 April, Universal health coverage (UHC) is the focus of the World Health Organization (WHO). Towards achieving this goal, the ultimate progress is being made in countries in all regions of the world. It wants to ensure that everyone obtain the care they need, when they need it, and right in the heart of the community. But millions of people still have no access to health care. Millions more are forced to choose between health care and other daily expenses of household chores.

Over the past decade, countries in the WHO Western Pacific Region have made significant health gains and increased commitments to advance UHC. On improving the health systems, the Regional Committee of the Western Pacific has agreed that countries should develop attributes such as quality, efficiency, equity, accountability, sustainability and resilience. The goal also focuses on action from individuals, policy-makers and health-care workers to make universal health care a reality for everyone

Universal health coverage key to safer, fairer world, says WHO chief on eve of World Health Day (UN org)

This year on the World Health Day, advocacy events will be held around the world to fuel the momentum of the #HealthForAll movement and to highlight the goal of achieving a fairer, healthier world where no one is left behind. The tagline for World Health Day is: Health for all – everyone, everywhere.

The campaign organized by the WHO, aims to help people better understand what universal health coverage means – what services and support should be available and where. There will be a visual material provided that helps people who have access to quality, affordable health care to understand what life is like for people without it and to advocate for equal access to care, everywhere. This campaign also presents an opportunity for ministers of health and other government decision-makers to commit taking action to address gaps in universal health coverage in their countries, as well as to highlight progress that has already been made.

Further, it is said that a High-level Meeting on universal health coverage is to be held at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2019. The Day is one of many opportunities to communicate about the importance of equity in health-care services, for not only the health of individuals, but also for the health of economies and society at large.

Another way to get involved in World Health Day is by joining the Solidarity Chain movement around the world. People could share their thoughts and views on social media showing the commitment to universal health coverage. Photos and videos of any events happening in and around could also be shared using the hash tag #HealthForAll.

UHC is one of the key targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.




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