Statement | 22 May 2019 | Download PDF
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is a priority objective for the World Health Organisation and is a goal that is supported by Health Action International (HAI).
However, in order for UHC to be successful, there must be universal access to quality assured essential medicines.
At the most recent World Health Assembly, HAI took the opportunity to discuss the importance of access to quality assured essential medicines.
Access to these medications depends on the affordability of medical technologies, both to the payers (governments, social insurance funds and so on) and to patients who have to pay out of pocket. For this reason, HAI highlighted the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Flexibilities and discussed the use of this as a valid mechanism that increases competition, lowers prices and improves access to medicines.
In addition to this, HAI spoke of the sexual and reproductive health rights including access to family planning and commodities. HAI noted that “failure to bring together the basic building blocks of health systems leads to the preventable loss of women’s lives every day”.
Read the full statement to learn more about the aspects necessary to achieve Universal Health Coverage.