The 2023 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Global Monitoring Report, published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank, paints a concerning picture of the state of global healthcare. Despite earlier progress, the report reveals an alarming stagnation in the journey toward providing universal access to quality, affordable healthcare.
Released ahead of the High-Level Meeting on UHC at the 78th United Nations General Assembly, the report indicates that more than half the world’s population still lacks essential health services, and nearly 2 billion people face severe financial hardship due to out-of-pocket healthcare costs. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasizes that this lack of access threatens not just individual health but also the stability of communities, societies, and economies.
The World Bank article also talks about how the report highlights that less than a third of countries have managed to improve health service coverage while reducing catastrophic out-of-pocket health spending over the past two decades. Furthermore, catastrophic out-of-pocket spending continues to rise, impacting over a billion people and pushing many into or further into poverty.
