Health for All Within Reach: How countries can mobilise resources to achieve Universal Health Coverage

The global community has committed to work together to achieve universal health coverage by 2030, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Despite this, at least half the world’s population still lack access to essential health services and some 100 million people are pushed into extreme poverty every year because they must pay for their healthcare.

National governments are in the driving seat of setting policy and legal frameworks, establishing institutions and removing legal barriers. Universal health coverage will not be achieved without political leadership, backed up by real action to make rhetoric reality. We call on national governments to:

• increase domestic health expenditure towards a target of 5% of GDP
• increase revenue for health and nutrition services in an equitable way through progressive taxation
• improve public financial management and purchase services in a strategic way

The report makes clear recommendations that countries should increase public financing to achieve health for all. They can do this through increased tax revenue, improved gender equality and efficiency gains. It also argues that political will and commitment are necessary drivers of change. Health needs to be prioritised; governments must commit money to health and ensure that the right services are delivered at the right level.