To ensure that no one is left behind, primary health care must be equitable, resilient, and capable of meeting everyone’s needs. Universal Health Coverage Day is recognized to inspire action toward this ambitious yet attainable goal. It is also an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the progress that has been made globally to expand access to UHC. Not only is UHC the moral and equitable path forward in strengthening global health, but it’s also the smartest investment we can make to prepare for the next pandemic.

Imagine a world where all people, whether they live in bustling cities, remote villages, or anywhere in between, have access to high-quality, affordable health care services. In this reality, primary health care is localized, sustainably financed, gender-responsive, and resilient in preventing and responding to emerging health threats. Universal Health Care (UHC) Day 2021, which will be observed Dec. 12, is an opportunity to rally around the goal of attaining health care for all by 2030. The day will also mark the two-year anniversary of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over that time, the world has mobilized in unprecedented ways. However, as reported deaths due to COVID-19 climb to 5.3 million and cases continue to rise exponentially amid the spread of highly transmissible new variants such as Omicron, it’s become increasingly evident that to stop the spread anywhere, we must stop the spread everywhere. This starts with ensuring that universal health care is prioritized by political leaders in primary health care systems.

Read the full article about universal health coverage by Logan Nesson at United Nations Foundation.