Universal Health Coverage: The Lancet Themed Issue

This themed Lancet Series examines the evidence for universal health coverage.  As stated by the World Health Organization, the goal of universal health coverage is to ensure that all people obtain the health services they need, without suffering financial difficulty when paying for them.  The key findings include:

• Expanding health coverage generally leads to better access to needed care and improved population health. 
• When health coverage is expanded, the largest health gains are seen for the poorest people.
• Successful universal health coverage relies on the country having strong governance structures, maintaining high quality standards, and targeting vulnerable populations.
• Countries have achieved universal health coverage using different systems. 
• Three common features to achieving universal health coverage are: strong governmental programmes which expand care and improve equity, a growth in people’s incomes and more money spent on health services, and increased health spending which is pooled rather than paid individually by households
• To measure countries’ progress towards universal health coverage we need comparable indicators. 

This series highlights that there is now a global progression towards universal health coverage.  Therefore, attention should focus on how to make the most of this transition and achieve successful universal health coverage in all countries. Articles in the series:

• The first article looks at the evidence between expansions in health coverage and improved population health outcomes.

Moreno-Serra, R. & Smith, P.C. (2012). Does progress towards universal health coverage improve population health? The Lancet, 380(9845), 917-923.

• The second article examines political and economic aspects of the transition to universal health coverage.

Savedoff, W. D., de Ferranti, D., Smith, A. L., & Fan, V. (2012). Political and economic aspects of the transition to universal health coverage. The Lancet, 380(9845), 924-932.

• The third article analyses low-income and middle-income countries, including Ghana, that have implemented national health insurance reforms.

Lagomarsino, G., Garabrant, A., Adyas, A., Muga, R., & Otoo, N. (2012). Moving towards universal health coverage: health insurance reforms in nine developing countries in Africa and Asia. The Lancet, 380(9845), 933-943.To read the articles in the series click here. Free registration is required.The Lancet. (2012). Universal Health Coverage Series. Themed Issue. The Lancet, 380(9845), 917-943.