Universal health coverage
Universal health coverage (UHC) means that all people have
access to the full range of quality health services they need, when and where
they need them, without financial hardship. It covers the full continuum of
essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment,
rehabilitation and palliative care.
To deliver on this promise, countries need to have strong, efficient
and equitable health systems that are rooted in the communities they serve.
Primary health care (PHC) is the most effective and cost-efficient way to get
there. Every country has a different path to achieving UHC and to decide what
to cover based on the needs of their populations and the resources at hand.
Investing in PHC ensures that all those needs are identified, prioritized and
addressed in an integrated way; that there is a robust and equipped health and
care workforce; and that all sectors of society contribute to confronting the
environmental and socio-economic factors that affect health and well-being,
including preparing for, responding to and recovering from emergencies.
