WHO EMRO | Universal Health Coverage Day 2024: WHO urges governments to prioritize financial protection for health | News

12 December 2024, Cairo, Egypt — Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day is celebrated annually on 12 December. This year’s theme, “Health: It’s on the government”, underscores the role governments play in ensuring that no one is forced to choose between health care and necessities such as food.

To mark UHC Day 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on governments worldwide to address the urgent need for financial protection to be put in place.

UHC aims to provide everyone, everywhere with access to quality health services without facing financial hardship. Over the last 2 decades, financial protection has eroded: 2 billion people around the world are struggling with financial hardship and 1.3 billion people have been pushed into poverty because of out-of-pocket health expenses. Individuals are often forced to delay or forgo lifesaving treatments, resulting in worsening health outcomes and perpetuating the cycle of disease and poverty.

In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 1 in 8 people face financial hardship as a result of spending more than 10% of their resources on direct out-of-pocket payments for essential health care, compounding hardship in a Region where almost two-thirds of the population already face obstacles to accessing the care they need.

Health is a human right. It is the responsibility of governments to ensure that people are not impoverished by health expenses. Investing in financial protection for UHC not only improves health outcomes but boosts social cohesion and resilience and strengthens national economies by contributing to increased productivity and enhanced employment and workforce participation.

Despite international commitments to advancing UHC, more than half of the world’s population lacks access to essential health services. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, the figures are even worse: almost two thirds of the population lack access, exposing them to avoidable health risks and widening social and economic disparities.

In the absence of affordable health care, many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – including economic prosperity, peace and resilience – will remain out of reach.

UHC Day provides an opportunity for governments to reaffirm their commitment to achieving UHC by 2030 and accelerate progress towards ensuring that health is no longer a financial burden for anyone.

On UHC Day 2024, WHO urges governments to take immediate actions to ensure that health services are accessible and affordable for all.

WHO is calling for a set of key actions that include

• making UHC and financial protection for health a national priority;
• implementing laws that protect people from catastrophic health expenditure;
• allocating public funding sufficient to cover a comprehensive and affordable package of essential health services;
• establishing national public health arrangements to cover the entire population, financed by general revenue and mandatory prepayments; and
• minimizing or eliminating user charges for those on low incomes and vulnerable groups such as people with chronic conditions.

Investing in UHC strengthens equity, boosts the economy and creates more resilient societies.

Governments must ensure that all people – especially the most vulnerable – are protected from the financial impact of health care costs.

For more information on UHC campaign: Toolkit 2024 – Universal Health Coverage Day