Universal health coverage is not an impossible goal
Medical Xpress December 12, 2024
Africa must strengthen health systems through innovation and collaboration to achieve universal health coverage, write Mengistu Asnake, Rispah Walumbe.
The economic case for investing in health systems has never been more compelling, yet the path to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) remains frustratingly complex.
A global UHC monitoring report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) last year confirms the enormity of the crisis: more than half of humanity—4.5 billion people—still lack access to essential health services. Two billion people are facing devastating financial hardship from health care costs.
Every year, according to the report, 1.3 billion people are pushed into poverty—or further into poverty—due to out-of-pocket health expenses.
With climate change and emerging pandemic threats adding to the pressure, it’s...