To mark the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO), yesterday, called on governments to invest in resilient health systems to achieve the well-being of all people globally by 2030.
In a statement, the global agency said in an increasingly turbulent world, climate change, emergencies and other shocks would take an even greater toll on health systems and people, who need them the most. Over 40 per cent of persons across the world already live in areas susceptible to climate change. Over a quarter of the global population live in settings affected by protracted conflict, poverty and lack of access to basic health services.
It noted that global humanitarian needs have reached record levels, with 360 million people in need worldwide.
At the same time, half of the globe’s population is not fully covered by essential health services, and two billion inhabitants face financial hardship or are impoverished due to out-of-pocket health spending.
Without urgent action, these gaps could only widen.
The Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, said: “WHO was born 75 years ago on the conviction that health is a human right. And the best way to realise that right is universal health coverage.
“Investing in resilient health systems, based on strong primary health care, is the most inclusive, equitable and cost-effective path towards universal health coverage.”
“Health systems that can respond to shocks and withstand pressures are crucial to effectively reduce the world’s disease burden, and avert the millions of additional deaths each year that are expected as a result of the climate crisis, avoidable environmental risks and complex health emergencies.”
The organisation is working with countries to reorient health systems towards a primary health care (PHC) - an approach that can help deliver 90 per cent of essential health services, while saving 60 million lives by 2030 – to accelerate progress towards UHC.
WHO and partners also held a series of events dedicated to UHC Day on December 11.
A 100-day youth-led advocacy to engage parliamentarians to deliver on the promise of Health for All kicked off at a town hall, hosted by WHO Youth Council, UHC2030 and Inter-Parliamentary Union. The event provided an opportunity for young people to pose questions about UHC reforms to a panel of lawmakers from around the world, and share perspectives on what is needed to drive action towards universal coverage in countries.
In 2019, the Inter-Parliamentary Union adopted a historic resolution, calling on lawmakers to accelerate action towards UHC.
WHO launched a new Global Health Expenditure Report and database, which shed new light on the evolution of global health spending at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and how to strengthen health systems.
The report revealed that in 2021, global spending on health reached a new high of S$ 9.8 trillion or 10.3 per cent of world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
