Global Health Crisis Spurs Call For Universal Coverage

New York: Over 4.5 billion people worldwide lack coverage for essential health services, the UN health agency stated on Monday, highlighting the need for stronger political commitment and higher government investment.

According to a joint World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Bank report, about 2 billion people endure severe financial difficulties when paying for vital medical treatment out-of-pocket.

“The fact that so many people are unable to access affordable, high-quality, essential health services jeopardize not only their own health, but also the stability of communities, societies, and economies,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said in a statement.

“We urgently need stronger political will, more aggressive investments in health, and a decisive shift towards transformation health systems based on primary healthcare.”

The global health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aim to attend universal healthcare for all by 2030 are jeopardized by the situation.

According to the report, over the past two decades, fewer than one-third of nations worldwide have increased healthcare coverage and reduced “catastrophic” out-of-pocket healthcare spending, which often exceeds 25 per cent of household income.

To get back on track towards the ambitious goals, the report calls on governments and development partners to make significant investments in the public sector.

It underlines the need for a “radical reorientation” of health systems, with a focus on primary care and improving fairness and financial protection.

According to the research, reform is also vital to fully address the devastating impact of COVID-19 on health systems and the global healthcare workforce while also bracing against the challenges posed by the economic crisis. Other factors include the consequences of climate change and shifting political priorities.

“We know that achieving universal health coverage is a critical step in helping people escape and stay out of poverty, but financial hardship persists, particularly for the poorest and most vulnerable people,” said World Bank for Vice President for Human Development Mamta Murthi.

“This report paints a bleak picture, but also provides evidence on how to priorities health in government budgets and strengthens healthcare systems to achieve greater equity in the delivery of essential quality health services and financial protection.” APP