Every year on 12 December, the global community marks International Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, a reminder that everyone, everywhere should have access to quality and affordable health care. The day serves as a call to action for stronger, more equitable health systems that leave no one behind.
What is Universal Health Coverage?
UHC means that all people can access the full range of essential health services they need, from health promotion and prevention, to treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care, without experiencing financial hardship.
It represents a fundamental principle: health is not a privilege, but a human right.
UHC is embedded in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3), aiming to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” Achieving UHC (target 3.8) includes financial risk protection, access to quality essential healthcare services, and access to safe, effective, affordable medicines and vaccines for all.
Despite global progress, significant gaps remain
- At least half of the world’s population (4.5 billion people) still lacks access to essential health services.
- Nearly two billion people face financial hardship due to health expenses.
- 3 billion people are pushed into poverty because they must pay for care out of pocket.
- In many low- and middle-income countries, inequities persist across gender, geography, and income.
UHC is not only a matter of health, it is a matter of equity, dignity and human rights. It protects people from falling into poverty due to illness and helps build resilience in times of crises such as pandemics, natural disasters and other health emergencies.
Building stronger, fairer health systems
Achieving UHC requires health systems that are equitable, resilient and people-centred. According to UHC2023’s Health systems for universal health coverage: a joint vision for healthy lives framework, strengthening health systems should follow five key principles:
- Leaving no one behind
- Health system strengthening must prioritise equity, non-discrimination, and a human rights-based approach.
- Systems should address the diverse needs of populations across sex, age, income, geography, disability, migration status, and other factors.
- Gender considerations must be integrated across service delivery, workforce, governance, and financing.
- People-centred service delivery, combined with multisectoral action, ensures that all populations can access quality care.
- Transparency and accountability
- Open decision making, participatory policy processes, and access to budget information are critical for holding governments accountable.
- Monitoring health outcomes and results strengthens learning and supports improvements in service delivery at national and subnational levels.
- Evidence-based national strategies and leadership
- Countries need robust national health policies tailored to their context while ensuring that no one is left behind.
- Evidence informs priority-setting, resource allocation, and monitoring progress toward UHC and the SDGs.
- Engagement of citizens, communities, civil society, and the private sector
- Health systems must be everybody’s business: multi-stakeholder participation strengthens ownership and responsiveness.
- Civil society engagement ensures services meet real needs, while private-sector involvement provides essential products and services under government stewardship.
- Multi-stakeholder dialogue informs planning, implementation, and monitoring of national health strategies.
- International cooperation and mutual learning
- Sharing knowledge, experiences, and best practices across countries supports more effective health system design and operational capacity.
- Development partners should align with national priorities and participate in joint planning and review mechanisms to enhance coordination and impact.
- Global partnerships and mutual accountability help ensure that investments in health systems contribute meaningfully to achieving UHC.
By applying these principles, countries can build health systems that are resilient, equitable, and capable of providing universal access to quality, affordable health care.
A shared responsibility
UHC is not only a global objective but a shared responsibility among governments, health workers, civil society, communities, and the private sector. Collaborative action is essential to create inclusive and resilient systems that protect everyone.
Aligned with Pharmalys’ mission and vision
At Pharmalys, we believe that health and well-being should be accessible to all. Our vision – a world free of unnecessary suffering due to unmet healthcare needs – aligns directly with the principles of Universal Health Coverage.
On this UHC Day 2025, we join the global call to reaffirm that health is a human right, not a privilege. It is our collective responsibility to build a future where everyone, everywhere has access to quality, affordable health care, where no one is left behind.
Pharmalys proudly supports the global movement for Universal Health Coverage.
Sources:
- UHC2030. Healthy systems for universal health coverage – a joint vision for healthy lives, UHC2030 Vision Paper https://www.uhc2030.org/fileadmin/uploads/uhc2030/02._Advocacy/Health_systems_strengthening/Joint_vision/UHC2030_vision_paper_WEB2.pdf
- UHC2030. Healthy systems for universal health coverage – a joint vision for healthy lives https://www.uhc2030.org/advocacy/health-systems-strengthening/joint-vision/
- World Health Organization (WHO). Universal Health Coverage Day, WHO Campaign Page https://www.who.int/campaigns/universal-health-coverage-day
- United Nations. Sustainable Development Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal3#progress_and_info
- World Bank. Universal Health Coverage Overview https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/universalhealthcoverage
- World Health Organization (WHO). Universal Health Coverage Key Facts https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/universal-health-coverage-(uhc)
