About

UHC protects

The case for universal health coverage (UHC) is clear. UHC ensures all people, everywhere, can get the quality health services they need without financial hardship. It is key to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals and to coping with the interlocking health, humanitarian and climate crises our world is facing.

 

Every 12 December, advocates worldwide mobilize on UHC Day to call for strong, equitable health systems that leave no one behind.

  • 12.12.2012

    The United Nations unanimously endorses a historic resolution urging all countries to accelerate progress toward UHC as an essential priority for international development.

  • 12.12.2014

    The Universal Health Coverage Coalition begins to celebrate 12 December as UHC Day, to hold leaders accountable to their promise of #HealthForAll.

  • 12.12.2017

    The United Nations officially designates 12 December as International Universal Health Coverage Day.

  • 12.12.2019

    A global movement calls on world leaders to Keep the Promise they made at the 2019 High-Level Meeting on UHC and achieve #HealthForAll by 2030.

  • 12.12.2020

    Nearly one year after the first cases of COVID-19 were reported to the World Health Organization, UHC Day goes virtual, calling for investments in health systems that protect everyone.

  • 12.12.2022

    UHC Day 2022 marked the last celebration before the 2023 High-Level Meeting on UHC.

  • 12.12.2023

    Now that the global community has renewed its commitment to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) for all worldwide with the adoption of the United Nations Political Declaration on UHC (21 September 2023), it is time for immediate and tangible steps that get progress back on track.

Why is UHC so important?

Health is a human right.

Learn why UHC is important for...

Climate change is humanity's most significant health threat, impacting social and environmental determinants of health – such as clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food, and secure shelter. 

It's time to:

  • Recognize the planet's health is inseparable from its people's health. The environment in which we live, work and grow has a massive effect on our health. UHC is crucial to people-centered climate advocacy. 
  • Build health systems that are responsive to our current reality of extreme weather year-over-year. UHC is a pillar to brace us against the health implications of what is to come.

A health system must believe that everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, should have the freedom to decide if, when, and how to become a parent or grow their families and receive essential services. 

It's time to:

  • Ground health systems in the belief that everyone is entitled to lifesaving and life-affirming care to support when they choose to or choose not to have a child.  
  • Believe that our future is not written in stone. Future health systems can ensure that 35 million women won't have abortions in unsafe conditions. And that 299,000 women won't have to die from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Mental health and well-being are essential to a young person's healthy development. Globally, one in seven individuals ages 10-19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder. We want to help establish healthy populations. We must ensure that mental health moves with efforts to improve physical health. Health Systems must care for the whole person. 

It's time to:

  • Ensure young people have a health system that provides them with tools and resources to protect their health and allows them to survive and thrive. 
  • Focus on defining health as continuously improving our quality of life, not simply having the absence of disease.

Globally, there are more than 100 million forcibly displaced people. In times like this, it is more critical than ever to continue developing migrant-friendly effective health systems that will ensure universal health coverage. Leaving no one behind must be a core tent of our work to ensure a healthy future for all. 

 

It's time to:

  • Protect people when they're most vulnerable is a sign of who we are as a society. UHC is about giving them a real shot at the life they deserve.
  • Design health systems that support everyone - regardless of the circumstance - because health knows no border. 

Stigma, bias, and systemic inequalities in healthcare settings combine to hinder LGBTQ+ people from receiving the support and care every patient deserves. If health is a human right, access to it might be protected and guaranteed. 

It's time to:

  • Honor all gender identities and sexual orientations as part of an equitable health system. UHC helps us build a world where everyone can access life-supporting, gender-affirming care. 
  • Close health disparities by ensuring LGBTQIA+ individuals can receive responsive care to promote their health.

12.12 Coordination Group, powered by UHC2030

 

The UHC Day Coordination Group (12.12.CG) is powered by UHC2030, a multi-stakeholder platform driving the global movement to build strong health systems for universal health coverage.

 

Since its establishment in 2016, UHC2030 is proud to have supported partners around the world in organizing events each UHC Day. Building on its experience and mandate, UHC2030 is uniquely positioned to coordinate UHC Day observations across the UN system and in countries around the world.