WHO’s work is aligned with SDG target 3.8, which focuses on achieving universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
Approximately half the world’s population lacks access to such essential health services. Therefore, to achieve SDG target 3.8 of Universal Health Coverage for all by 2030, at least 1 billion more people will need to have access to essential health services in each five-year period between 2015 and 2030.
The essence of UHC is universal access to a strong and resilient people-centred health system with primary care as its foundation. Community-based services, health promotion and disease prevention are key components as well as immunization, which constitutes a strong platform for primary care upon which UHC needs to be built.
Universal health coverage
Universal health coverage means that all people have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. It includes the full range of essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.
Currently, at least half of the people in the world do not receive the health services they need. About 100 million people are pushed into extreme poverty each year because of out-of-pocket spending on health. This must change.
To make health for all a reality, we need: individuals and communities who have access to high quality health services so that they take care of their own health and the health of their families; skilled health workers providing quality, people-centred care; and policy-makers committed to investing in universal health coverage.
Universal health coverage should be based on strong, people-centred primary health care. Good health systems are rooted in the communities they serve. They focus not only on preventing and treating disease and illness, but also on helping to improve well-being and quality of life.
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