The United Nations (UN’s) International Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day is annually observed across the globe on 12th December to raise awareness about the need for strong, resilient health systems and accessible, affordable, high-quality health services for all without financial hardship.
Theme:
2025 Theme: “Unaffordable health costs? We’re sick of it!”
Focus: The theme focuses on the devastating human impact of high Out-Of-Pocket (OOP) health expenditures.
Exam Hints:
- What? Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day 2025
- When? 12 December 2025
- 2025 Theme: “Unaffordable health costs? We’re sick of it!”
- Key Focus: Eliminating financial hardship and out-of-pocket (OOP) health expenditures.
- SDG Link: Essential for achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)
Background:
Initiation: In 2014, the UHC Coalition began observing December 12 as UHC Day to mark the UN General Assembly(UNGA)’s recognition of the importance of UHC.
UN Declaration: In 2017, the UNGA adopted resolution A/RES/72/138, officially designating December 12 as “International UHC Day” to be observed annually.
First Observance: The first International UHC Day was celebrated on 12 December 2018.
Significance of the Date: December 12 marks the 2012 UNGA resolution urging all countries to prioritize and accelerate progress toward universal health coverage.
SDG Link: UHC, included under Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Target 3.8 for 2015–2030, is a key component of SDG 3 on Good Health and Well-being and contributes to progress across the wider SDG framework.
2025 Event:
Annual Town Hall (Geneva, Switzerland,): Youth–parliamentarian dialogue on partnerships for affordable health for all.
UHC Webinar (WHO Western Pacific): Focused on revised global indicators for tracking UHC progress.
High-level Forum (Tokyo, Japan): Japan, WHO, and World Bank discussed advancing UHC via innovative financing and health system reforms.
Advancing UHC in 2025:
Report: The 2025 Global Universal Health Coverage Monitoring Report highlights that, despite some progress in service coverage and reduced financial hardship, billions still lack essential health care, and global efforts remain too slow to achieve UHC by 2030.
Learning on TAP: On 12 December 2025, WHO Academy launched Learning on TAP, an open-access blended learning resource in Lyon, France, to train primary health care workers in assistive technology and sensory care.
UHC2030: UHC2030 is a global partnership hosted by WHO and the World Bank that helps countries strengthen health systems and achieve universal health coverage.
India’s Initiatives Toward UHC:
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY): Launched in 2018, the PM-JAY is implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
- Provides insurance coverage of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care, covering nearly 600 million people and reducing out-of-pocket expenditure to about 39%.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs(AAMs): Launched in April 2018, AAMs, formerly Health & Wellness Centres began with the first centre in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, and now operate over 1.77 lakh centres providing expanded primary healthcare, including services for Non-Communicable Diseases(NCD) and mental health.
Other Measures: India has implemented the Digital Health Mission, initiatives for affordable medicines, and strengthened national programs for NCDs and mental health to enhance healthcare access and quality.
About World Health Organisation (WHO):
Director General (DG) – Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Established – 1948
