World leaders pledge to step up efforts for universal health coverage by 2030

World leaders have approved a new political declaration, “Universal Health Coverage (UHC): expanding our ambition for health and well-being in a post-COVID world,” committing to intensify efforts to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030. This declaration aims to assess countries’ capacity to provide universal access to healthcare without financial burdens, covering a range of services from health promotion to palliative care. Progress toward UHC has stalled since 2015, leaving over 4.5 billion people without essential health services in 2021, with many pushed into poverty due to healthcare costs. The declaration signals a commitment to make UHC a reality, emphasizing the importance of investing in primary healthcare. An estimated $200 to $328 billion per year is needed for this effort in low- and middle-income countries, which could save lives and increase life expectancy. The declaration will be monitored for implementation and discussed further at the High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage in 2027 once adopted by the UN General Assembly.

Source – CGTN