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“Health for All through All for Health”
Build the world we want: A healthy future for all
Universal health coverage (UHC) means that all people have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. It includes the full range of essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.
Ten years ago, on 12 December 2012, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a resolution (A/RES/67/81) urging countries to accelerate progress toward UHC; as well as agreeing to include UHC in the discussions on the post-2015 development agenda in the context of global health challenges, through Whole-of-Government (WOG) and Whole-of-Society (WOS) approaches.
Five years ago, on 12th December 2017, the United Nations proclaimed 12 December as International Universal Health Coverage Day (UHC Day) by resolution (A/RES/72/138). 12th December each year since then is the time for UHC partners to share stories of UHC, to learn from we have achieved, and to call for bigger and smarter investments for stronger and resilient health systems, and to champion partners to make commitments to help move the world closer to UHC vision.
UHC has been both mean and goal for sustainable development agenda. UHC has been highlighted in all global health mechanisms, including the work programs of the World Health Organization. ‘Continue progressing towards Universal Health Coverage with focus on human resources for health and essential medicines’ has been announced as one of flagships for WHO South-East Asia Region. Under the leadership of Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh-the Regional Director, UHC Flagship is in sync with the Sustainable Development Goals for Health, and WHO’s global targets for a billion more people benefitting from universal health coverage, a billion more enjoying better health and well-being, and a billion more better protected from health emergencies.
Despite the progress and commitment gained, fulfilling the vision of everyone and everywhere should have access to quality, affordable health care, is still a major challenge in implementation.
