Universal health coverage as known as UHC is an elaborate effort to provide medicines for the masses of all age groups at low cost and to reach all corners of the country. This starts at the primordial level of prevention and ranges from but not limited to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care.
It covers all types of healthcare services. This also includes the involvement of healthcare workers equipped with vast knowledge, skills and settings, who are capable of delivering and meeting the healthcare needs of the general public as well as the uncommon diseases that require specialised treatment. This can be an effective form of treatment when used during critical emergencies such as disaster management and war. This also maintains the health, nutritional status of a population in rural and urban settings, this also includes the maternal and child health.
UHC is firmly based on the 1948 WHO constitution, declaring health as fundamental right and commits to ensuring the highest attainment of health for everyone as an equitable right. Individuals are benefited of protection of this right, when they receive healthcare services at a time period that they need the most. Achieving UHC is one of the targets of all the nations of the world by adopting the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. WHO aims to promote and deliver healthcare to 1 billion people more, through the WHO Thirteenth General Programme of Work.
There are still challenges associated with UHC. Such as provisional healthcare provided to people who are in rural areas, living in poorer households, and in households of older family members. These groups individually already suffer from financial hardship. There is an inevitable need for data measurement across gender inequalities, socioeconomic disadvantages, specific issues raised by indigenous peoples, and refugee and migrant populations, that are displaced by conflict, economic, and environmental conflicts.
UHC2030 is a plan of action taken up by WHO in terms of universal health coverage. Its focus is to mobilise political commitment and collective action for universal health coverage. UHC2030 works within three areas of approach: elevating voices for UHC, improving collaboration and sharing knowledge and networks. It is part of the WHO work commitments to tackling problems associated with universal health coverage. It also works with different partners around the globe, both national and internationally.
The key principles of this initiative are: equality, transparency through accountability, evidence based health strategies with the government aid, making health systems accessible to communities of all sorts-civil and private sectors, international extension of fraternity when it comes to sharing health data and information.
Nivea Vaz
Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara
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