Commitments

Everyone has a role to play to make universal health coverage a reality. Learn more about your leaders’ commitments to UHC, and help hold countries accountable to #LeaveNoOneBehind in advancing UHC, on UHC Day and every day.

State of Commitment to UHC

Tracking actions on commitments towards universal health coverage (UHC) is essential for government accountability and transparency. UHC2030 tracks political commitments towards UHC through the State of UHC commitment review alongside a country-level dashboard on UHC commitments.

 

UHC Data Portal includes country profiles (progress dashboard) based on the latest State of UHC Commitment review, which provides data sets and data visualization on health systems and the state of UHC commitment in 139 countries. The country profiles include an overview of 1) UHC commitment; 2) global UHC indicators and related data; 3) institutional efforts; 4)  UHC priorities, progress and equity across population groups; 5) public perception and social participation, and 6) stakeholder collaboration.

Tracking Universal Health Coverage: 2023 Global monitoring report

New evidence compiled by the WHO and the World Bank shows that two decades of global progress towards Universal Health Coverage has stalled  presents an alarming picture of stagnating access to essential health services. The organizations also reveal that one billion people are being pushed into extreme poverty because they have to pay for health services out of their own pockets.

 

The findings are contained in this new report, highlighting the urgency to ensure health coverage for the 4.5 billion people who are not protected.

UHC2030 Action Agenda

The Action Agenda from the UHC movement is a set of action-oriented policy recommendations that country leaders should implement to strengthen resilient and equitable health systems, advance universal health coverage and health security, and deliver health for all by 2030. 

The UHC Action Agenda was developed by an inclusive, multi-stakeholder Task Force, which brings together twenty representatives from UHC2030 constituencies and beyond. It was informed by a public consultation which gathered 830 responses from over 100 countries. It was endorsed by the UHC2030 Steering Committee.

Champion political leadership for universal health coverage.

Political leaders have now experienced how important universal health coverage is to their societies and economies, given their experiences during the pandemic and the ongoing impact of conflicts and the climate crisis.

Leave No One Behind.

Health is enshrined as a fundamental right of every human being, and it is the duty of governments to protect, promote and fulfil the right to health. Countries will benefit economically and socially by investing in health because universal health coverage makes a significant contribution to reducing poverty and promoting equity and social cohesion.

Adopt enabling laws and regulations.

Policies, laws and regulations that integrate universal health coverage and health security and create an enabling environment for use of health technologies and innovations will strengthen future economic and social resilience.

 

Strengthen the health and care workforce to deliver high-quality health care.

The health and care workforce is essential for ensuring healthy people, societies and economies and plays a crucial role during pandemics, conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies. In all situations, women play a prominent role, delivering most front-line essential health and care services.

Invest More. Invest Better.

Universal health coverage is an important foundation for healthy people, societies and economies and makes countries more resilient in health emergencies.  Primary health care is a critical investment for both universal health coverage and health security.

Move together towards universal health coverage.

Governments cannot make progress towards universal health coverage without stakeholders that play a critical role in developing, reviewing and implementing national health policy frameworks.

 

Guarantee gender equality in health.

Gender equality, including equal rights and equal access to services, is critical to achieving universal health coverage and leaving no one behind. Gender equality in the health workforce is a necessary component for achieving universal health coverage.

 

Connect universal health coverage and health security.

Universal health coverage and global health security are intertwined goals anchored in the health systems of every country. Leaders must act now to design and resource integrated approaches to support both universal health coverage and prevention, preparedness and response capacities for health emergencies within wider efforts to build equitable, resilient health systems.

The Coalition of Partnerships for UHC and Global Health

Recognizing the need for greater collaboration and harmonization across health stakeholders and programmes, the Coalition of Partnerships for UHC and Global Health unites health leaders and advocates in a common goal to align advocacy and accountability efforts to achieve UHC and advance the SDGs.

 

The Coalition brings together a wide range of thematic areas, and its members include Stop TB PartnershipWHO Global NCD PlatformPartnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH)the RBM Partnership to End MalariaUNAIDSUHC2030, and the NCD Alliance.

Key Coalition Messages:

 

Partner across sectors and stakeholders to achieve unified goals:

The Coalition stands for mobilizing multisectoral and multistakeholder action to amplify global awareness, accountability, investments, efficient health spending, strengthened health systems, and exchange of best practices and lessons learnt.

 

The global, collaboration, which leverages the strengths of diverse stakeholders – including local and national governments, the private sector, civil society, the United Nations system and more – is necessary to support countries in achieving Health for All.

 

Prioritize the most vulnerable:

The Coalition stands for a holistic, people-centred approach that respects the voices of those living with or at-risk for various diseases, and prioritizes the needs of population groups left furthest behind, in line with the principles of human rights and gender equity.

 

Although the pandemic has affected everyone, COVID-19 has forced poor and vulnerable populations into even more precarious positions. Much more needs to be done to serve and protect these groups in emergencies.

 

Reestablish trust between decision-makers and communities:

The Coalition promotes social participation in policymaking to ensure people-centred policies and action.

 

COVID-19 has magnified what’s at stake when people lose trust in their leaders and public systems to protect their health, ensure financial security and future wellbeing. Political leaders must listen and respond to the needs of communities they serve and create a conducive environment and platforms for civil society participation in decision-making with a direct impact on health.

Additional Reading

Everyone has a role to play to make #HealthForAll a reality. Learn more about your leaders’ commitments to UHC and take action to hold them accountable to the promise of health for all, on UHC Day and every day.

Key Targets, Commitments & Actions

If you’re looking for a summary of what was promised by leaders at the HLM, look no further than the Key Targets, Commitments & Actions document. You can find the full political declaration here.

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UN Secretary-General’s UHC Day 2021 Message

The pandemic has lent even greater urgency to the quest for universal health coverage (UHC). Here’s why.