Kolkata, Apr 7: Universal health coverage (UHC) is central to improving health and well-being –
a fundamental human right, said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of
WHO South-East Asia, on the occasion of the World Health Day on Saturday.
It is also imperative for a country’s well-being as healthier
populations create more productive economies, she said.
The tagline for this year’s World Health Day is “Universal Health Coverage: everyone, everywhere”..
Dr Poonam said the promise of universal health coverage (UHC) is bold: that all people can access quality health services, when and where they need them, without suffering financial hardship.
UHC’s benefits are clear. UHC is central to improving health and well-being. Healthier populations in turn create more productive economies that raise living standards. UHC also strengthens health security by making it easier to contain the spread of infectious disease and respond effectively to natural disasters. UHC will help achieve a healthier, more equitable and secure South-East Asia Region, she said.
Importantly, UHC is feasible: whether a country is rich or poor, progress is possible. Some countries, including in the WHO South-East Asia Region, began their path to UHC when they were low-income. That is a critical point: No-one starts from zero; there are always opportunities to move ahead, Dr Poonam said.
She said since 2014 WHO South-East Asia has worked to leverage those opportunities, identifying UHC as a Flagship Priority, and – in consultation with Member countries – implementing a series of game-changing initiatives.
That includes launching the Decade for Strengthening Human Resources for Health 2015-2024, which gives special attention to improving the education and performance of health workers, while also intensifying efforts to retain health workers in rural and hard-to-reach areas, Dr Poonam said. UNI
The tagline for this year’s World Health Day is “Universal Health Coverage: everyone, everywhere”..
Dr Poonam said the promise of universal health coverage (UHC) is bold: that all people can access quality health services, when and where they need them, without suffering financial hardship.
UHC’s benefits are clear. UHC is central to improving health and well-being. Healthier populations in turn create more productive economies that raise living standards. UHC also strengthens health security by making it easier to contain the spread of infectious disease and respond effectively to natural disasters. UHC will help achieve a healthier, more equitable and secure South-East Asia Region, she said.
Importantly, UHC is feasible: whether a country is rich or poor, progress is possible. Some countries, including in the WHO South-East Asia Region, began their path to UHC when they were low-income. That is a critical point: No-one starts from zero; there are always opportunities to move ahead, Dr Poonam said.
She said since 2014 WHO South-East Asia has worked to leverage those opportunities, identifying UHC as a Flagship Priority, and – in consultation with Member countries – implementing a series of game-changing initiatives.
That includes launching the Decade for Strengthening Human Resources for Health 2015-2024, which gives special attention to improving the education and performance of health workers, while also intensifying efforts to retain health workers in rural and hard-to-reach areas, Dr Poonam said. UNI
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