Universal health coverage has a direct impact on a population’s health and welfare.
Access and use of health services enables people to be more productive and active contributors to their families and communities.
It also ensures that children can go to school and learn.
At the same time, financial risk protection prevents people from being pushed into poverty when they have to pay for health services out of their own pockets.
Universal health coverage is thus a critical component of sustainable development and poverty reduction, and a key element of any effort to reduce social inequities.
Universal coverage is the hallmark of a government’s commitment to improve the wellbeing of all its citizens.
