Universal Health Coverage Day 2023
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day takes place on 12 December each year. It both celebrates progress towards health for all and raises awareness of the need for strong and resilient health systems to achieve UHC.
“Health for all: Time for action” is the theme for UHC Day 2023, to highlight the need to take immediate and tangible steps to create the world we want. It calls for reflection on a decade of progress, challenges and opportunities in advancing UHC.
Let’s remind leaders that it’s time to:
- invest in UHC
- strengthen health systems
- expand primary health care
- work across sectors and communities
- promote innovation to reach everyone
One in every 8 people in our Region face financial hardship when they must seek health services - a situation that will likely get worse with the impact of emergencies and climate change. I call upon our Member States to invest more in sustainable, resilient health systems. Let us make the Region a model for universal health coverage, despite the challenging environment. It’s time for tangible action to achieve Health for All by All.
– Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean
Campaign objectives
- Recognize and celebrate UHC progress in the Region.
- Raise awareness of the importance of UHC for societal and economic well-being.
- Advocate for urgent action to mobilize the necessary political commitments and financial investments to attain the UHC target of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Regional situation
More than half of the countries and territories of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region have grappled with varying degrees of emergencies. Currently, there are 19 graded emergencies.
The Region’s Service Coverage Index score stands at 57 based on 2021 estimates. This is a full 11 points below the global average of 68. And progress in our Region has been slower than in other WHO regions, with only XXX Region lagging behind the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
One in every 8 people in the Region face financial hardship when they must seek health services –spending more than 10% of their income on out-of-pocket payments.
Call for action
On UHC Day 2023, leaders are urged to enact policies that guarantee equitable access to essential health services without financial hardship.
The campaign will build on the momentum from the adoption of the second United Nations Political Declaration on universal health coverage in September 2023. This renewed, action-oriented political commitment will refocus political attention and financial investments to speed up progress on UHC.
Related links
Universal Health Coverage Day 2023 (who.int)
Achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030
2023 Universal Health Coverage Global Monitoring Report
WHO’s key messages on climate change and health
Health needs to be front and centre of national plans to fight climate change
UHC policy brief on climate change and environment
Operational framework for building climate resilient and low carbon health systems
2023 WMO report on the State of Climate Services
Primary health care and health emergencies: brief