Background
Each year on 12 December, the world celebrates International Universal Health Coverage Day (UHC Day), an official UN-designated day, to raise awareness of the need for strong, equitable and resilient health systems and universal health coverage (UHC). UHC is based on the principle that everyone, everywhere should have access to quality essential health services without suffering financial hardship. It is a goal that cuts across all health targets and is such a beacon of hope for a healthier and more equitable world.
UHC Day 2020
This year’s UHC Day theme reminds us of our most urgent priority:
HEALTH FOR ALL: PROTECT EVERYONE.
To end this crisis and build a safer and healthier future, we must invest in health systems that protect us all—now.
COVID-19 struck only a few months after world leaders endorsed of the landmark Political Declaration on UHC – committing to accelerate efforts towards the achievement of universal health coverage so that everyone can access the health services they require, when and where they need them, without suffering financial hardship as a result.
The pandemic is testing our resolve to deliver health for all and threatens to undo decades of progress. It has disrupted delivery of essential health services in many countries, stretched resources to the limits, and revealed the impact of decades of underinvestment in primary care and essential public health functions.
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The UHC Partnership supports countries in investing in
stronger health systems to respond to COVID-19 and protect
everyone from future health threats.
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Stay tuned!
On 11 December 2020, 14:00-15:25, CET, the WHO UHC Day virtual event will stream live online.
The event will feature countries supported by WHO through the UHC Partnership and highlight major progress towards UHC, the challenges remaining, and how the initiatives and capacities developed by WHO and its partners provide key support for effective health system functioning in the COVID-19 pandemic context.
WHO’s new Primary Health Care (PHC) Special Programme and the new WHO UHC Compendium of Health Interventions will be launched at the event.
Related events supported by the UHC Partnership
Get involved
Here are some of the ways you can take action to support this year’s campaign
- Support the promotion of UHC Day campaign messages and products. Visit the UHC Day campaign site to access new information and materials that you can use to support the campaign.
- Share your 12.12 plans through this form. UHC Day offers organizations a chance to end the year strong and show their support for UHC, whether through a social media activation, op-ed or virtual event.
- Explore and disseminate the upgraded UHC Data Portal and the new dashboards. These data snapshots can help tailor approaches for holding leaders accountable where it matters.
- Liaise with national and local governments and/or country offices of the UN System and relevant international organizations, to share information and coordinate about UHC Day events. This can include collaboration with non-state actors in promoting the UHC agenda.
- Share digital or multi-media content that partners can use around the world. To facilitate virtual UHC Day campaigns—particularly in the COVID-19 era—digital or social media resources can be made available online to help groups or individuals who are interested in organizing or participating in virtual campaigns for free or low cost. (e.g., develop multi-media content and video messages, social media graphics, etc.)
- Share your experience/expertise to help build local capacity. Prepare or help your partners prepare a local campaign planning package for UHC Day. This could also take the form of hosting an open training for civil society on advocacy, fundraising or other key skills.