Dr. Samir Kumar Saha :
Every year, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day is commemorated on December 12 across the globe. It is the anniversary of the first unanimous United Nations resolution, calling for countries to provide affordable and quality health care to every person everywhere. In December 2012, the UN passed a landmark resolution endorsing the UHC. Since then, the World Bank Group and the World Health Organization (WHO) have identified UHC as a top priority for sustainable development.
The Day has become the annual rallying point for the growing movement for health for all. UHC means everyone can access quality health services without financial hardship. It is an inherently political goal rooted in the human right to health. It also makes economic sense.
Health is a human right, that no one should go bankrupt when they get sick, and that universal health coverage underpins our collective security and prosperity. The World Health Organization’s constitution affirms that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental human right. More than half of the world’s countries have included the right to health, public health or medical care in their national constitutions. All people aspire to receive quality, affordable health care. The UHC aims to achieve better health and development outcomes, help prevent people from falling into poverty due to illness, and give people the opportunity to lead healthier, more productive lives. In recent years, the global UHC movement has gained momentum, with the World Health Assembly and the United Nations General Assembly calling on countries to “urgently and significantly scale up efforts to accelerate the transition towards universal access to affordable and quality health care services.”
There is growing global consensus that UHC is a smart investment and an achievable goal everywhere. Lack of affordable, quality health care traps families and nations in poverty.
According to World Bank, worldwide 400 million people lack the most basic life-saving health care, and 17% of people in low- and middle-income countries are pushed or further pushed into poverty (US$2/day) because of health spending. Up to one-third of households in Africa and Southeast Asia borrow money or sell assets to pay for health care.
According to WHO, the UHC has been included in the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) adopted by the United Nations. More than 100 low- and middle-income countries, home to almost 3/4 of the world’s population, have taken steps to deliver the UHC. The emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS)-representing almost half the world’s population-are all taking steps toward the UHC.
Countries implementing the UHC are seeing the benefits: healthier communities and stronger economies. Every $1 that a country invests in health today can produce up to $20 in full-income growth within a generation. When health care is accessible and affordable, families can send their children to school, start a business and save for emergencies. UHC pays a resilience dividend. In times of distress, health minimizes the shock to lives and livelihoods. In times of calm, health promotes community cohesion and economic productivity. Health is a right, not a privilege.
The UHC aims to achieve better health and development outcomes in line with the SDGs, which will guide the post-2015 agenda. SDG 3 includes a target to “achieve UHC, 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.”
The Ebola crisis was a stark reminder of the urgent need to strengthen health systems. The poorest and most marginalized people bear the brunt of preventable mother and child deaths, infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and non-communicable diseases such as cancer and heart disease. To effectively fight these threats, we must reach everyone, everywhere, with health care. Sources said, in Bangladesh, about 4.5 million people become poor every year to meet their health expenses. Rather than fighting diseases, we need to go for public health approach such as promotive, preventive and rehabilitative care. Public health approach is cost effective and affordable. It is the best option relating to ensuring the health rights of our people.
Bangladesh is facing a number of challenges in its health sector. To overcome the challenges, a multi-sectoral holistic approach can be one of the important strategies. Traditional medicine can play a role in ensuring health care of all. According to WHO, “Traditional medicine refers to health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being.”
We want improved health care for all, but there are still problems prevailing in our country, which is hampering the health services. There are many poor people, who are unable to get proper health services due to financial crisis.
Besides, every year, a section of people go abroad for the purpose of taking health care services. The matter deserves urgent attention and all concerned should come forward for improving the health care services in our country.
The issue of disparities in health is a matter of life and death. Disparities in health among our people are real and represent a serious threat to our future as a nation. It is time for us to take a public health approach to eliminate disparities in health. It can be said that taking necessary steps on integration of all systems of medicines can ensure health care of our people. Combination of efforts of all the stakeholders and the integration of all the systems of medicine are important for ensuring the health rights of all. It is hoped that the authorities concerned would look into the matter.
The day is an opportunity to put aside our differences and work together for a movement that brings benefits to people and patients and reduces poverty and promotes inclusive growth.
(The author is Executive Director of Public Health Foundation of Bangladesh (phfbd)& Founder President of Ayurved and Naturopathy Association of Bangladesh (AYUNS).
Every year, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day is commemorated on December 12 across the globe. It is the anniversary of the first unanimous United Nations resolution, calling for countries to provide affordable and quality health care to every person everywhere. In December 2012, the UN passed a landmark resolution endorsing the UHC. Since then, the World Bank Group and the World Health Organization (WHO) have identified UHC as a top priority for sustainable development.
The Day has become the annual rallying point for the growing movement for health for all. UHC means everyone can access quality health services without financial hardship. It is an inherently political goal rooted in the human right to health. It also makes economic sense.
Health is a human right, that no one should go bankrupt when they get sick, and that universal health coverage underpins our collective security and prosperity. The World Health Organization’s constitution affirms that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental human right. More than half of the world’s countries have included the right to health, public health or medical care in their national constitutions. All people aspire to receive quality, affordable health care. The UHC aims to achieve better health and development outcomes, help prevent people from falling into poverty due to illness, and give people the opportunity to lead healthier, more productive lives. In recent years, the global UHC movement has gained momentum, with the World Health Assembly and the United Nations General Assembly calling on countries to “urgently and significantly scale up efforts to accelerate the transition towards universal access to affordable and quality health care services.”
There is growing global consensus that UHC is a smart investment and an achievable goal everywhere. Lack of affordable, quality health care traps families and nations in poverty.
According to World Bank, worldwide 400 million people lack the most basic life-saving health care, and 17% of people in low- and middle-income countries are pushed or further pushed into poverty (US$2/day) because of health spending. Up to one-third of households in Africa and Southeast Asia borrow money or sell assets to pay for health care.
According to WHO, the UHC has been included in the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) adopted by the United Nations. More than 100 low- and middle-income countries, home to almost 3/4 of the world’s population, have taken steps to deliver the UHC. The emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS)-representing almost half the world’s population-are all taking steps toward the UHC.
Countries implementing the UHC are seeing the benefits: healthier communities and stronger economies. Every $1 that a country invests in health today can produce up to $20 in full-income growth within a generation. When health care is accessible and affordable, families can send their children to school, start a business and save for emergencies. UHC pays a resilience dividend. In times of distress, health minimizes the shock to lives and livelihoods. In times of calm, health promotes community cohesion and economic productivity. Health is a right, not a privilege.
The UHC aims to achieve better health and development outcomes in line with the SDGs, which will guide the post-2015 agenda. SDG 3 includes a target to “achieve UHC, 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.”
The Ebola crisis was a stark reminder of the urgent need to strengthen health systems. The poorest and most marginalized people bear the brunt of preventable mother and child deaths, infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and non-communicable diseases such as cancer and heart disease. To effectively fight these threats, we must reach everyone, everywhere, with health care. Sources said, in Bangladesh, about 4.5 million people become poor every year to meet their health expenses. Rather than fighting diseases, we need to go for public health approach such as promotive, preventive and rehabilitative care. Public health approach is cost effective and affordable. It is the best option relating to ensuring the health rights of our people.
Bangladesh is facing a number of challenges in its health sector. To overcome the challenges, a multi-sectoral holistic approach can be one of the important strategies. Traditional medicine can play a role in ensuring health care of all. According to WHO, “Traditional medicine refers to health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being.”
We want improved health care for all, but there are still problems prevailing in our country, which is hampering the health services. There are many poor people, who are unable to get proper health services due to financial crisis.
Besides, every year, a section of people go abroad for the purpose of taking health care services. The matter deserves urgent attention and all concerned should come forward for improving the health care services in our country.
The issue of disparities in health is a matter of life and death. Disparities in health among our people are real and represent a serious threat to our future as a nation. It is time for us to take a public health approach to eliminate disparities in health. It can be said that taking necessary steps on integration of all systems of medicines can ensure health care of our people. Combination of efforts of all the stakeholders and the integration of all the systems of medicine are important for ensuring the health rights of all. It is hoped that the authorities concerned would look into the matter.
The day is an opportunity to put aside our differences and work together for a movement that brings benefits to people and patients and reduces poverty and promotes inclusive growth.
(The author is Executive Director of Public Health Foundation of Bangladesh (phfbd)& Founder President of Ayurved and Naturopathy Association of Bangladesh (AYUNS).
