Universal access to essential health information: accelerating progress towards universal health coverage and other SDG health targets

The information that people need to protect and manage their own health and the health of those for whom they are responsible is a fundamental element of an effective people-centred healthcare system. Achieving universal health coverage (UHC) requires universal access to essential health information. While it was recently recognised by the World Medical Association, universal access to essential health information is not yet reflected in official monitoring of progress on UHC for the sustainable development goals (SDGs). In this paper, we outline key features that characterise universal access to essential health information and indicate how it is increasingly achievable. 

Health for all: 75 years of improving public health

On 7 April 2023, the World Health Organization observed its 75th birthday. WHO’s 75th?anniversary year is an opportunity to look back at public health successes that have improved quality of life during the last seven decades. It is also an opportunity to motivate action to tackle the health challenges of today and tomorrow. #HealthForAll #WHO75 More information: https://www.who.int/campaigns/75-years-of-improving-public-health

Universal health coverage evolution, ongoing trend, and future challenge: A conceptual and historical policy review

The goal of universal health coverage (UHC) from the United Nations (UN) has metamorphized from its early phase of primary health care (PHC) to the recent sustainable development goal (SDG). In this context, we aimed to document theoretical and philosophical efforts, historical analysis, financial and political aspects in various eras, and an assessment of coverage during those eras in relation to UHC in a global scenario. Searching with broad keywords circumadjacent to UHC with scope and inter-disciplinary linkages in conceptual analysis, we further narrated the review with the historical development of UHC in different time periods. We proposed, chronologically, these frames as eras of PHC, the millennium development goal (MDG), and the ongoing sustainable development goal (SDG). Literature showed that modern healthcare access and coverage were in extension stages during the PHC era flagshipped with “health for all (HFA)”, prolifically achieving vaccination, communicable disease control, and the use of modern ...

Towards applying the essential public health functions for building health systems resilience: A renewed list and key enablers for operationalization

The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change-related events, protracted conflicts, economic stressors and other health challenges, call for strong public health orientation and leadership in health system strengthening and policies. Applying the essential public health functions (EPHFs) represents a holistic operational approach to public health, which is considered to be an integrated, sustainable, and cost-effective means for supporting universal health coverage, health security and improved population health and wellbeing. As a core component of the Primary Health Care (PHC) Operational Framework, EPHFs also support the continuum of health services from health promotion and protection, disease prevention to treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative services. Comprehensive delivery of EPHFs through PHC-oriented health systems with multisectoral participation is therefore vital to meet population health needs, tackle public health threats and build resilience. In this perspective, we present a renewed EPHF list consisting of twelve functions as a reference to foster country-level operationalisation, based on available authoritative ...

International Conference on Primary Health Care Resilient Primary Health Care: The Foundation of Universal Health Coverage In The Era of Sustainable Development Goals

Welcome to the International Conference on Primary Health Care!

The International Institute for Primary Health Care (IPHC-E) in collaboration with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health (MoH-E) and supported by the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health is thrilled to announce the upcoming conference on PHC. The Conference follows the successful pre-conference that was attended by more than 500 participants from over 80 countries.

This conference is designed to provide our participants with an interactive and engaging experience featuring keynote plenary panels, concurrent workshop sessions, roundtable discussions, lightning paper sessions, a poster and exhibit hall and much more. The overall goal of the conference is to facilitate attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the health-related SDG’s by strengthening the PHC movement globally.

WATCH RECORDINGS

Tracking Universal Health Coverage: 2023 Global monitoring report

The world is off track to make significant progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) (SDG target 3.8) by 2030 as improvements to health services coverage have stagnated since 2015, and the proportion of the population that faced catastrophic levels of out-of-pocket (OOP) health spending has increased.

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A vision for primary health care in the 21st century

In 1978 world leaders, international organizations and health authorities gathered in Alma-Ata (now Almaty), Kazakhstan, and released the Declaration of Alma-Ata on Primary Health Care, which remains a landmark document in the history of global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration established a standard of public commitment to making community-driven, quality health care accessible, both physically and financially, for all. This was the forerunner of the Global Strategy for Health for All by the Year 2000 that was pursued by WHO and its partners for the rest of the 20th century, and of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” by 2030.

A Vision for Primary Health Care in the 21st Century provides the rationale for and foundation of the Astana Declaration, with its continued political focus on the right to integrated, quality, personal and population-level primary care; on health as a multisectoral ...

Purchasing for quality chronic care: summary report.