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What Is Universal Coverage Of Health?


The goal of universal coverage of health is to be sure that all people get the health services that they need without suffering financial hardship when purchasing them.

For a group or country to obtain universal well being services, several factors has to be in place, including:
1. A strong, efficient, well-run health system to suit priority health needs through people-centred integrated care (including services for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, noncommunicable diseases, maternal and child health) by:
  • informing and encouraging individuals to stay healthy preventing illness;
  • detecting medical ailments early;
  • having the capability to treat disease; and
  • helping patients with rehabilitation.
2. Affordability – a method for financing health services so individuals don't suffer financial hardship when you use them. This can be achieved in many different ways.
3. Access to essential medicines and technologies in order to identify and treat medical problems.
4. A sufficient capacity of well-trained, motivated health workers to deliver the services to fulfill patients’ needs in accordance with the best available evidence.

It also requires recognition with the critical role played by all sectors in assuring human health, including transport, education and urban planning.

Universal well being services has a direct affect on a population’s health. Access to health services enables individuals be more productive and active contributors on their families and communities. It also helps to ensure that children can look to school and learn. At the same time, financial risk protection prevents people from being pushed into poverty whether they have to pay for health services out of their own pockets. Universal well being services is thus an essential component of sustainable development and poverty reduction, plus a key element of the effort to cut back social inequities. Universal coverage may be the hallmark of any government’s deal with improve the wellbeing coming from all its citizens.

Universal coverage is firmly using the WHO constitution of 1948 declaring health an essential human right and also on the Health for All agenda set through the Alma-Ata declaration in 1978. Equity is key. This means that countries must track progress not simply across the national population but within different groups (e.g. by income level, sex, age, place of residence, migrant status and ethnic origin).


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