UHC Forward: Towards Universal Health Coverage

Governments around the world are engaging in serious political and technical discussions on how to expand health coverage. Still others are considering such reforms, but are struggling to navigate the legal, financial, and political frameworks of their countries to determine the best path towards reform.

Below is a list of UHC-related headlines from around the world:

General News

What can be learned from China's health system?: The Lancet today publishes a themed issue devoted to China to coincide with the third anniversary of the country's 2009 health reform plan, and a conference—Preventing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in China: national agenda and local commitments—organized by the Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine. [Source: The Lancet]

Dr. Margaret Chan appointed to a second term as Director-General: The World Health Assembly appointed Dr. Margaret Chan for a second five-year term as Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). In her acceptance speech to health ministers and representatives of WHO’s Member States, Dr Chan pledged her continued commitment to improve the health of the most vulnerable. “In my view, universal coverage is the single most powerful concept that public health has to offer. It is a powerful equalizer,” said Dr. Chan. “[It] is the best way to cement the gains made during the past decade.” [Source: The World Health Organization]

Can the sector-wide approach (SWAp) to health financing support universal health coverage initiatives?: SWAp is a process of aid coordination that aims at pooling external and internal funds under recipient governments’ leadership and ownership such that donors and recipient governments work towards common goals and are accountable for the results. [Source: Health Financing in Africa: Le Blog]

Vatican committed to universal health coverage: Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, head of the Holy See delegation to the 65th World Health Assembly, reaffirmed the Holy See's support for Resolution WHA64.9 on "sustainable health financing structures and universal coverage," which urges member States to aim for affordable universal coverage and access for all citizens on the basis of equity and solidarity. [Source: National Catholic Reporter]

Universal health coverage: "the anchor" for the work of the WHO: An editorial by Lara Brearley, Health Policy and Research Advisor at Save the Children UK. [Source: Save the Children UK]

Rockefeller Foundation and WHO Planning Meeting puts universal health coverage on path towards UN General Assembly resolution: Days before the World Health Organization’s annual World Health Assembly, The Rockefeller Foundation funded and co-hosted a planning meeting with France, Mexico, Thailand and the World Health Organization (WHO) on universal health coverage (UHC) and health system reform that lays a path towards a possible groundbreaking UN General Assembly Resolution on UHC. [Source: The Rockefeller Foundation]

Country News

China

China calls for universal healthcare: Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu says that the international community is obliged to collaborate to achieve universal coverage during the general discussion of the 65th World Health Assembly. [Source: China Daily]

Ghana

Ghanaian government announces plans to incorporate breast cancer treatment into NHIS: The Ghanaian government announced plans to incorporate early diagnoses and treatment of breast cancer into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). [Source: Ghana Broadcasting Corporation]

India

Universal health produces equity: An Editorial by an unamed author says it is imperative for all countries to move towards universal coverage is their goal is to consolidate the public health advances achieved thus far. [Source: The Hindu]

Activists to approach the Prime Minister of India on universal healthcare: This article outlines some of the demands that evolved out of a workshop on universal access to health care organised by Janaarogya Andolana Karnataka (JAAK) here on Wednesday. [Source: The Hindu]

Indonesia

Acting Minister of Health promotes universal health coverage: “Social health insurance is crucial to providing necessary health care for patients suffering from major catastrophic diseases, in particular to reducing the cost burdens of health care of the disease,” said Minister of Health Ali Ghufron Mukti. [Source: The Jakarta Post]

Kenya

Kenyan medical scheme to continue: The Kenyan government has declared it will do everything possible to ensure that the Public Service’ medical scheme continues. Prime Minister Raila Odinga said the current crisis at the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) over the allocation of the funds to accredited hospitals could be resolved. [Source: PS News]

Nigeria

'Health insurance should be compulsory': Nigerian Minister of Health Onyebuchi Chukwu has called for legislation to make health insurance mandatory, noting it would remove problems of affordability which denies millions of Nigerians universal access to health care. [Source: Allafrica.com]

Nigerian state of Ania to enlist civil servants in the National Health Insurance Scheme: Dr. Okechukwu Ogah, Abia Commissioner for Health, announced that civil servants in the state would soon be enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). [Source: Leadership]

Minister advocates mandatory health insurance scheme to Nigerians: The Nigerian Minister of Health Onyebuchi Chukwu called for the introduction of a mandatory health insurance scheme for all Nigerians. Chukwu made the call at the inauguration of the National Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in Abuja. [Source: Leadership]

Who's afraid of the National Health Bill?: Should the health sector continue to suffer because of the battle for supremacy over the National Health Bill? Columnist Winifred Ogbebo examines the issues. [Source: Leadership]

National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) boss calls for review of medical costs: Acting Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Dr. Abdulrahman Sambo has asked for a review of the cost of medical services in Nigeria. Sambo said the need to have standard costing of medical services necessitated the urgency of the review. [Source: Allafrica.com]

Philippines

Health financing matters: An editorial by Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon, President and CEO of PhilHealth. [Source: Business Mirror]

South Africa

South African Minister of Health seeks private doctors: Hundreds of private sector doctors in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province of South Africa have been asked to set aside four hours a week to work in under-staffed public clinics, according to national Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi. [Source: iol News]

Taiwan

Towards universal health coverage: Taiwan's experience: Opinion editorial by Chiu Wen-ta, Taiwan's Minister of Health. [Source: The Korea Times]