December 12 is Universal Health Coverage Day

Too often, people delay or miss out on medical treatment due to high health costs, resulting in longer-term illness within populations. This reduces workforce participation and productivity, ultimately leading to increased demand for long-term care or welfare support.

Investing in universal health coverage strengthens the national economy by enhancing health and well-being, boosting workforce participation and productivity, and fostering resilience in individuals, families and communities. When populations are healthy, economies thrive!

Investing in #UHC boosts national economies by improving workforce health and well-being, increasing productivity, and building resilience in communities.

This #UHCDay, we call on governments to prioritise UHC and financial protection in their regular national budgets.

👓 Read: Our opinion paper to be published in the next issue of International Journal of Person Centered Medicine. In it we explore the critical role of primary care in promoting health equity, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness. By emphasising person-centered care, prevention, and continuity, primary care makes healthcare more inclusive and financially viable. Integrating public health functions with individualised care addresses immediate health needs and supports long-term wellness. Overall, primary care is essential for achieving UHC, promoting health equity, and ensuring that healthcare is accessible, affordable, and effective for all.

💻 Watch: This YouTube video from the WHO on What is people-centred care? Alongside the WHO, our Team at the Imperial WHOCC are supporting countries to progress towards universal health coverage by designing health systems around the needs of people instead of diseases and health institutions, so that everyone gets the right care, at the right time, in the right place. Did you know that globally, 1 in 20 people still lack access to essential health services that could be delivered at a local clinic, instead of a hospital, and where services are accessible, they are often fragmented and of poor quality?

👩‍🏫 Learn: This e-Learning course on universal health coverage advocacy from the World Bank offers bitesize online modules to learn about the essence of UHC2030 Advocacy Guide. The UHC2030 Advocacy Guide provides an overview of what universal health coverage is, why it matters and how you can mobilise bottom-up change at the grassroots and community level to influence nationallevel policies and make meaningful health system reforms, ensuring that no one is left behind. The guide aims to share specific tools to help you call on policy and decision makers to focus on improving any and all of the three pillars of Healthy systems for universal health coverage - a joint vision for healthy lives: service delivery, health financing and governance.