Working towards universal health coverage

Universal health coverage (UHC) means all people and communities have access to quality health services when and where they need them, without suffering financial hardship.

In 2015, at the Sixty-sixth session of the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, Member States adopted a resolution on UHC and endorsed “Universal Health Coverage: Moving Towards Better Health” — an action framework that provides guidance for Member States to accelerate progress towards UHC and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The action framework recognizes that countries are on different pathways towards UHC and identifies five interrelated attributes of high-performing health systems: quality, efficiency, equity, accountability, sustainability, and resilience. 

WHO Western Pacific Regional Office supports the Member States to advance towards UHC by facilitating high-level multisectoral policy dialogues, providing strategic advice and technical assistance, strengthening country capacity, engaging with development partners to support national planning processes and ensure donor funding alignment with national health priorities, as well as providing a regional platform to review progress, identify priorities, and explore solutions to accelerate progress.