Universal Health Coverage Day 2022
12 December 2022
WHO/Lindsay Mackenzie
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Imagine if our societies and economies were designed to prioritize everyone’s
health. It means that we all get to enjoy productive and fulfilling work that do
no harm to our physical and mental health. And if we ever need to access
information and services to make healthier choices, prevent disease, get
treatment, medicines, or recovery support, these would be readily available to
us, never too far away, never too expensive. This has always been our shared
vision; an ambitious goal that we call universal health coverage.
When health as a fundamental human right is upheld by all countries and all sectors, we lay a strong foundation for building the world we all want and deserve. Evidence shows that health systems powered by a whole-of-society approach, also known as primary health care, is the most effective and cost-effective way to bring services for health and well-being closer to people. This could save millions lives and even increase average life expectancy.
As we have over the past 75 years, WHO stands with all people, communities and organizations across the world in taking action to Build the world we want: A healthy future for all.
Universal Health Coverage Day (UHC Day) on 12 December is the annual rallying point for advocates to raise their voices and share the stories of the millions of people still waiting for health, call on leaders to make smarter investments in health and
remind the world about the imperative of UHC. It is an official United Nations-designated day that marks the anniversary of the unanimous endorsement of UHC in 2012 as an essential priority for international development.
This year’s campaign comes at a critical time when countries across the world are rebuilding from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic while facing many other crises such as natural disasters and conflict. It kicks off the countdown to the high-level
meeting on UHC which will be held at the United Nations General Assembly in 2023 — the final push to galvanize political support and global action towards achieving UHC targets set for 2030.
Together, we can build a world where everyone, everywhere can get the health care they need without being pushed into poverty because of having to pay for it. This is the goal that makes all other goals happen.
Let’s score a goal for health for all
WHO and partners celebrated UHC Day at the FIFA World Cup Fan Zone in Doha, Qatar on 12 December 2022
FIFA
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FIFA
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Join the Health for All Film Festival Special
WHO has launched a call for short films for the 4th edition of the Health for All Film Festival. The call for short films (up to 8 minutes long) opens on 31 October 2022 and will close on 31 January 2023. WHO invites public institutions, nongovernmental organizations, communities of patients and of health workers, students in public health and film schools from around the world to submit their original short film. The festival is also open to independent film-makers, production companies and TV broadcasters.
On Universal Health Coverage Day, we invite you to watch the Film Festival’s playlist of most riveting film entries on #HealthForAll through the years. Learn more
