Tackling
Global health challenges
Universal Health Coverage
Achieving a Healthier & Sustainable Future for All - Policy Perspectives on UHC
The innovative biopharmaceutical industry stands together with the global health community to support Member States in accelerating efforts to achieve UHC.
From the innovative biopharmaceutical industry perspective, there are three key components to achieving UHC:
“Uphold Quality Primary Healthcare”; “Invest More, Invest Better in Health”; and “Improve Access to Medicines and Vaccines”
Significant global health gains have been achieved in recent years: life expectancy has increased in many parts of the world; six million fewer children under the age of five years died in 2016 than in 1990; polio is on the verge of being eradicated; and 21 million people living with HIV are now receiving treatment. Despite this progress, people everywhere continue to face a complex mix of interconnected threats to their health and well-being—from poverty and inequality to conflict and climate change. Furthermore, the growing burden of disease continues to challenge the global community in finding and implementing adequate, ethical, and sustainable solutions to reach UHC.[i] We still have a way to go in fulfilling the vision of the World Health Organization (WHO) of a world in which all people attain the highest possible standard of health and well-being.[ii]
This publication is an effort to put forward the policy perspectives of the innovative biopharmaceutical industry on universal health coverage (UHC), including our views on the key ingredients required for achieving a healthier and sustainable future for all, and reaffirms our commitment to play our part. But before we can pave the way forward, we must first address why it is now more critical than ever to rise to this challenge.
[i] Health Policy Watch ‘Interactive Map: Who’s Ahead, Who’s Behind in UHC – Explore the Data’, 2019
[ii] World Health Organization ‘ 13th General Program of Work’, 2018
UHC is a journey unique to each country’s needs and priorities, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Each country must deploy necessary resources to achieve them and must prioritize which health services to cover, what beneficiary population groups to cover, how to pay for those services, and how to ensure effective and efficient delivery in consultation with stakeholders.
Regardless of a country’s unique needs, no single organization or sector can achieve UHC on its own and in recognition of the need to move together towards achieving UHC, we are committed to playing our part.
Quality Primary Healthcare
Key components to achieving UHC
Invest More, Invest Better
Key components to achieving UHC
Access to Medicines and Vaccines
Key components to achieving UHC
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