UHC Forward: Towards Universal Health Coverage

This blog is cross-posted with permission from the Medicus Mundi International Network.

Like many other actors in global health, the Medicus Mundi International Network (MMI) is overwhelmed by the attention given to the concept of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the last two years, mainly by the World Health Organization and related to the debate on health in the post-2015 development agenda. We have followed this debate with great interest (see: MMI thematic guide), as the “UHC hype” brought health systems strengthening, a core concern of MMI, back to the top of the global health agenda.

The current discussion paper presents key elements of the concept of UHC as promoted by the World Health Organization and reflects them based on our own ambition of Health for All such as stated in the MMI Network Policy.

In the three sections (1) “What is in Universal Health Coverage?”, (2) “Financing UHC”, and (3) “UHC and health equity” of the discussion paper we will directly refer to two helpful “questions and answers” papers recently published by the World Health Organization and add some of our reflections and open questions, hoping to contribute with this to the further discussion within and beyond our Network.

The paper was drafted by an ad hoc working group of the MMI Network and adopted by the MMI Board on 13 August 2013 as discussion paper for MMI Network members and partners. Your feedback is most welcome!