Universal Health Coverage Day 2023: How things have changed after COVID-19 pandemic?

Universal Health Coverage Day 2023: Every year, December 12 is observed as Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day. The day recognizes the importance of primary health care and guarantees health as a right and not as a privilege. This year Universal Health Coverage is centered around the theme, "Health for All: Time for Action." And this theme resonated well as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cast a long shadow on global health. The crisis exposed significant gaps in healthcare systems worldwide, highlighting the need for stronger, more inclusive approaches to achieving UHC.

Before COVID-19, the world witnessed huge challenges in achieving UHC. Many people in the world are living without access to healthcare services, and are facing financial hardship due to lack of funds, staff and quality of care. 

What is the impact of the Pandemic on healthcare?

The surge of COVID-19 exposed loopholes in the worldwide healthcare system. These inequalities and differences majorly depend upon access and affordability. Different adverse effects or impacts of the Pandemic on healthcare are: 

• People lost their jobs and went through major financial crisis, limiting access to healthcare. 
• Regular healthcare services were affected because of limited resources and manpower.
• The pandemic stretched the boundaries of discrimination in terms of health based on status, gender and geographical location. 

What are the Positive Outcomes of COVID-19?

It is not just bad but good too. Despite the challenges, the worldwide pandemic came up with a silver lining and spread positive developments providing multiple opportunities to strengthen UHC: 

COVID-19 improve the path of telehealth and other digital health technology leading to better healthcare access in remote areas. 

The pandemic helped to show the significance of robust healthcare systems for better public awareness.

The tough situation also led to the establishment of international platforms for research, development and distribution of vaccines and medical resources to address global health. 

What to learn and understand from the Pandemic situation? 

COVID-19 illuminated the opportunities to build and establish an equitable and resilient healthcare system for one and all. Several key areas to focus on for a better tomorrow are: 

• It is important to invest in primary care to provide an accessible and preventable healthcare system. This step will reduce the burden on hospitals and will help to manage chronic diseases. 
• Comprehensive and affordable health insurance coverage for citizens is really important to protect individuals to overcome hardship and ensure complete access to health. 
• The pandemic highlighted the importance to build robust public health systems to prevent and mitigate outbreaks and include future pandemics. 
• COVID-19 addressed various social factors like poverty, education and other issues to achieve health equity and ensure and healthy life for everyone. 

In conclusion, UHC Day 2023 is an occassion to acknowledge the challenges and positive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the path to Universal Health Coverage is tough and full of hurdles, still it is important to work towards the future to demonstrate the urgency and the importance of collective efforts.  

Important Days and Dates in December 2023