Universal Health Coverage means that all people have access to health services. They need, when and where they need them without financial problems. Assuring all residents of the particular country access to the health care system. It aims to provide health security and universal access to essential care services. It includes the full spectrum of essential quality health services. This is from health promotion to prevention treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care across the life course.
UHC strategies enable everyone to access the services that address the most significant causes of diseases. In addition, it guarantees that the quality of those services is good. This is to improve the health of people who receive them.
Achieving UHC is one of the targets that nations of the world set when adopting the SDGs in 2015. Universal health care does not imply coverage for all cases and all people. Therefore, only that all people have access to healthcare when and where needed without financial problems. Some universal health care systems are government-funded. While others are based on a requirement that all citizens purchase private health insurance.
The Director-General of WHO describes universal health coverage as the “single most powerful concepts that public health has to offer”. One of the goals of universal health coverage is to create a system of protection. This provides equality of opportunity for people to enjoy the highest possible level of health.
Many countries that are experiencing rapid population growth have young populations that could drive economic growth and reduce poverty. However, improving reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health( RMNCAH) and addressing mental health disorders is crucial to achieving UHC.
Major challenges subsist.
Maternal mortality- the lifetime risk of maternal death for women is on average one in 56. However, most of these fatalities are preventable. If pregnant women have timely access to the healthcare they need it.
Child mortality- mortality rates among children under five are increasing from 12.5 million to 5.3 million between 1990 and 2018. However, a child’s chance of survival is still dependent on where they are born.
High fertility- women are giving birth to fewer children today than 4 decades ago. However, there are still a handful of countries with persistently high fertility such as Niger.
Adolescent fertility- more adolescent girls are giving birth in countries with high fertility rates. Therefore, underage mothers are more likely to experience complications due to pregnancy.
Pillars of UHC.
These pillars are essential elements that enable the health care system to function. It includes the full spectrum of essential, quality health services, from health promotion to prevention. So, they include:
Benefits of UHC.
UHC strategies enable everyone to access the services that address the most significant causes of disease and death. In addition, it ensures that the quality of that service is good enough. This is to improve the health of the people who receive them.
Economic benefits of UHC.
I’ll health affects productivity and diverts households income to seeking health service. Moreover, the funds set aside to cater to basic needs are left intact. Therefore, alleviating poverty and contributing to sustainable development.