Over a billion people lack adequate access to needed health services and 100 million are pushed into poverty each year as a consequence of paying for the services they receive. Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is a response to this, providing the assurance that the health services people need are available, affordable and of good quality.

Various countries at different income levels have recently made rapid progress towards UHC. There is no “one size fits all,” approach, and countries as diverse as Chile, China, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Moldova, Rwanda, Thailand and Vietnam have each chosen unique pathways. However, the vast diversity in approaches to UHC does not mean anything goes. Country experience reveals common lessons for success and pitfalls to avoid. This brief outlines six lessons in health system financing to guide progress toward UHC.