Question

Would you choose Universal coverage or universal access for healthcare and why?

Please provide a 150 word response.

Answer 1

Universal health coverage means that all individuals and communities receive the health services they need without suffering financial hardship. It includes the full spectrum of essential, quality health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.It  is one of the targets the nations of the world set when adopting the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015.All countries can do more to improve health outcomes and tackle poverty, by increasing coverage of health services, and by reducing the impoverishment associated with payment for health services.(WHO,Universal health coverage)

Universal health coverage is not free , it treats a wide variety of population and sevices in many countries.

Universal health coverage is attained when people actually obtain the health services they need and benefit from financial risk protection.

Universal health coverage is the obtainment of good health services de facto without fear of financial hardship. It cannot be attained unless both health services and financial risk protection systems are accessible, affordable and acceptable. Yet universal access, although necessary, is not sufficient. Coverage builds on access by ensuring actual receipt of services. Thus, universal health coverage and universal access to health services are complementary ideas. Without universal access, universal health coverage becomes an unreachable goal.(Evans et. al.2013)

1.WHO,Universal health coverage,(1) 2011 Purchasing Power Parity.

2.Universal health coverage and universal access, David B Evans, Justine Hsu,Ties Boermaa,2013 Aug 1; 91(8): 546–546A. doi:  10.2471/BLT.13.125450