Universal health coverage (UHC) aims to ensure equitable access to quality health services without financial hardship, requiring adequate and sustainable public financing. In the WHO Western Pacific Region, economic growth has improved public health spending, yet many countries still face insufficient funds, inefficient resource use, and growing health demands. Fragmented financing systems, weak integration between public and private providers, and underinvestment in primary health care (PHC) have limited UHC progress. Additionally, ageing populations, rising noncommunicable diseases, climate change, and other transitions threaten financial sustainability and health outcomes.
To address these challenges, the Regional Action Framework proposes five strategic domains: expanding public funding for health, improving spending equity and efficiency, prioritising PHC, strengthening governance, and integrating health into broader economic and social policies. By implementing context-specific reforms, fostering intersectoral collaboration, and reinforcing political commitment, countries can enhance health system resilience, advance UHC, and promote sustainable development across the Western Pacific Region.