The International Universal Health Coverage Day(UHC) is observed annually on December 12 under the resolution (A/RES/72/138) by the United Nations(UN). The day was adopted on December 12, 2017 at the UN General Assembly(UNGA). The day aims to create awareness in providing strong and resilient health systems and universal health coverage with multi-stakeholder partners around the country. The day also aims to provide access to quality and affordable health care for all.
Theme: The theme for the UHC Day 2019 campaign is: “Keep the promise.”
Key Points:
i.UHC Target Year: All UN Member States have agreed to achieve UHC by 2030, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals 3 (SDG-3) which is ‘Good health and well-being’.
ii.A high level meeting (HLM) during the 2019 UN General Assembly (UNGA) on universal health coverage (UHC) was conducted at UNGA headquarters in New York, United States(US) in September 23, 2019. The overall theme of the HLM was “Universal Health Coverage: Moving together to build a healthier world.”
iii.WHO health coverage score on India: Recently in 2019, as per World Health Organisation(WHO) India scored 55 out of 100 in terms of health coverage.
iv.India’s effort on UHC: The Indian government launched the Ayushman Bharat(AB)programme, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana(PMJAY) in 2018 to provide health coverage to Indian families. It is one of the world’s largest publicly funded health insurance scheme, set to cover 500 million poor people.
- Health coverage- Health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year is provided under the scheme.
- On this ocassion, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare conferred the UHC Awards to best performing Primary Healthcare teams of States and UTs, in the presence of Shri. Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Preeti Sudan, Secretary (Health) and Dr. Indu Bhushan, CEO (NHA), at the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day event organized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- Also, Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) Booklet for AB-HWCs (Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centre), a Synthesis Report of Regional Workshops on AB-HWCs, Oral Healthcare Guidelines, AB-PMJAY 2020 Calendar and AB-HWC portal launched.
v.UHC: UHC means that all individuals and communities receive health services they need without suffering financial hardship. It includes essential, quality health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.
- UHC is firmly based on the 1948 WHO Constitution, which declares health a fundamental human right and commits to ensuring the highest attainable level of health for all.
About United Nations General Assembly(UNGA):
Founded- 1945.
Headquarters- New York,United States(US).
President- Tijjani Muhammad-Bande.
