Every year since 2017, International Universal Health Coverage Day is celebrated on 12 December. The 2024 theme for UHC Day, “Health: It’s on the government,” aims to highlight the government's responsibility to invest in people's health and make healthcare affordable or free for all, especially the marginalised section of society.
What is Universal Health Coverage?
The main idea behind Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is that people should have access to good quality and affordable health care everywhere. This means that people should be able to access quality healthcare where and when needed without having to bear financial hardships.
The Current State of Universal Health Coverage Globally
According to a WHO report, the current state of Universal Health Coverage globally is not satisfactory. There has not been any significant progress in this regard since 2021. Between 2000 and 2021, the number of people not covered by essential health services reduced by 15%. However, there has been minimal progress since 2015, and the world still needs to make significant progress towards UHC by 2030. The WHO report shows that around 4.5 billion people were not covered by essential healthcare services by 2021.
Progress towards UHC had already slowed down before the COVID-19 pandemic. The UHC service coverage index stagnated at 68 from 2019 to 2021. Moreover, according to the report, around 2 billion people faced severe financial hardships to get quality healthcare in 2019. People living in rural areas and those with elderly family members have faced catastrophic financial hardships. So, globally, there has not been any significant progress towards ‘UHC by 2030’, and the crisis has only deepened since the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 84% of countries reported disruption of essential healthcare services even in 2022. Inequalities continue to pose a major challenge for UHC.
Importance of Building Awareness
Considering that a large part of the global population lacks access to quality health care, it is essential to build awareness regarding UHC. It is also about promoting health equity and empowering individuals and communities. Improved awareness regarding UHC will help ensure equitable access to healthcare for economically weak and vulnerable communities as well as reduce healthcare-related disparities. Moreover, strong awareness about the UHC will encourage people to demand more effective policies from the government and advocate for their health rights. When people are aware of the UHC, they will be better informed regarding their rights to healthcare and how to navigate complex healthcare systems.
Spreading awareness about UHC will also help improve public health outcomes. In the longer run, UHC awareness can help reduce healthcare costs since the focus of UHC is not just on treatment but also on preventive care. UHC also offers important social and economic benefits, making it critical to build awareness. Apart from helping improve the workforce’s overall health, UHC can reduce the economic burden of diseases and improve social and economic stability. All these factors show that it is crucial to build awareness regarding UHC.
How Individuals Can Contribute to UHC Awareness
Besides celebrating Universal Health Coverage Day, here’s how individuals can contribute to building UHC awareness —
- Read about UHC policies to keep yourself updated, and try learning about your local healthcare rights and any regional and national health initiatives to communicate more effectively about UHC’s significance.
- Share factual and accessible information via social media channels to grow awareness about UHC. Make posts regarding how UHC fosters health equity, its significant benefits, and challenges to its implementation.
- Share accurate information through social networks to dispel any misconceptions related to UHC.
- You can also host workshops at your community and workplace or with local organisations to discuss UHC, its goals, principles, and benefits.
- In communities with limited healthcare literacy, people need to understand basic healthcare terms and concepts to empower them to participate in discussions and decisions regarding UHC.
- Participating in advocacy campaigns can help promote health equity and UHC. You can attend events, sign petitions, and write to local representatives.
- People in healthcare, education, or administrative sectors can volunteer time and expertise to local clinics and NGOs to help spread awareness regarding available healthcare resources.
- Support healthcare professionals in your area to organise health screenings and share information about UHC.
- Create support groups for people focusing on local needs and discuss health issues and regional challenges to increase coverage and better healthcare access.
- Share information on preventive measures like regular check-ups, vaccinations, and lifestyle changes, which will help reduce disease burden and support the basic UHC goal.
- Encourage your friends, family, and community members to adopt healthier lifestyles.
- Others may not have access to platforms to share their healthcare experiences and you can help amplify their voices. You can be of significant help to people from low-income and marginalised communities as well as those living in rural areas.
Conclusion
UHC can improve access to healthcare, increase health equity, reduce financial barriers, and strengthen health systems. As part of the Sustainable Development Goals, it offers an opportunity to promote a comprehensive and coherent approach to healthcare. UHC holds immense potential, but our collective responsibility is to spread awareness to achieve higher health equity. Also, remember to invest in a comprehensive health insurance plan to remain prepared for unexpected medical emergencies.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It may contain outdated data and information regarding the Insurance industry and products. It is advised to verify the currency and relevance of the data and information before taking any major steps. ICICI Lombard is not liable for any inaccuracies or consequences resulting from the use of this outdated information.