12, Dec 2017

December 12, 2017 is Universal Health Coverage Day; this year is the five-year anniversary of the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that underscores health as a key factor in international development, and calls on governments to make progress on ensuring that all people can access quality, affordable healthcare. Universal health coverage (UHC) means that all people and communities get the healthcare they require without having to struggle financially. It includes the full range of healthcare, from prevention to treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care. According to WHO, annually, 100 million people are forced into “extreme poverty” due to out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. Under the Sustainable Development Goals, all UN Member State have agreed to attempt to implement universal health coverage by 2030.