2024 International Universal Health Coverage Day. A Health Economist, Dr Oluedo Eric, has called on African Governments to embrace Mandatory Health Insurance Scheme and reduce the incidence of Catastrophic Health Expenditure caused by the Out of Pocket payments in our Hospitals to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Speaking on the Theme for 2024 UHC Day “Health: It’s on the Government”, which underscores the role of governments in ensuring equitable and affordable healthcare for all, Dr Oluedo stated that Universal Health Coverage (UHC) which protects people from severe financial hardship when paying for health services aims to ensure that everyone has access to quality health services, without financial hardship, when and where they need them. This includes promotion, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative health care. He further warns that UHC will remain elusive in Africa, until our governments embrace Mandatory Health Insurance Scheme that will eliminate Out of Pocket payments and adequately protect citizens from catastrophic health expenditure.
For many, the high price of medical care and Out of Pocket payments, present impossible choices between vital treatments and necessities like food, shelter and clothing. These challenges disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, including women, children, and adolescents, who face the greatest barriers to healthcare access. “Universal Health Coverage Day is a reminder that health for all, means everyone can access the health services they need, without financial hardship,”
said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. This year, Universal Health Coverage Day emphasises the urgent need for governments to prioritise financial protection, ensuring access to essential health services for all without risking financial hardship.
Financial protection ensures that people don’t fall into poverty because of having to pay out-of-pocket for health costs.
Over the last 20 years, financial protection has progressively deteriorated, with 2 billion people experiencing financial hardship and 1.3 billion people pushed into poverty due to health spending.
The statistics are stark: 4.5 billion people worldwide lack access to basic health services, and 2 billion experience financial hardship from healthcare costs. Investing in health is not just a moral imperative but an economic one. Access to affordable healthcare improves workforce participation, boosts productivity, and fosters social cohesion and increases our Human Development Index.
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