Supporting Affordable Healthcare on International Universal Health Coverage Day

Every health organization has a major goal of building a world where the entire global population has access to quality healthcare. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed in 2021 that 4.6 billion people are not fully covered by essential health services. 

The International Universal Health Coverage Day seeks to bridge this gap. 

At the Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA), we fully support this goal. We work towards improving universal coverage so that many people can be protected against public health crises. 

In this guide to International Universal Health Coverage Day, you will learn about the need for global universal health coverage. 

What Is International Universal Health Coverage Day?

The International Universal Health Coverage Day is a day when Advocates of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) promote awareness about the current state of global wellness access. 

The message behind this resolution is clear: everyone, everywhere ought to have access to quality care, where and when they need it, without financial constraints. Achieving this vision requires not only policy changes but also improved patient service models that prioritize accessibility, compassion, and responsiveness to community needs.

On December 12, 2012, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) endorsed a unanimous resolution urging countries to accelerate progress towards UHC. Then, December 12 was officially proclaimed as the International Universal Health Coverage Day (UHC Day) by the United Nations in 2017. 

The message behind this resolution is clear: everyone, everywhere ought to have access to quality care, where and when they need it, without financial constraints. Achieving this vision requires not only policy changes but also improved patient service models that prioritize accessibility, compassion, and responsiveness to community needs.

Dimensions of UHC

1. Population Coverage

The first dimension is population coverage, which addresses the critical question of who receives medical services. This dimension promotes equity. Everyone, including marginalized communities and vulnerable groups, should have the same access to care as those in urban centers. From a patient experience perspective, this means ensuring your support teams, intake staff, and patient coordinators are well-trained to serve diverse populations with cultural sensitivity and without bias.

2. Service Coverage

The second dimension is service coverage, which explains what services are available to the population. While quality medical services matter, availability matters as well. The services should include prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care. Organizations must also ensure their support infrastructure, from call centers to patient navigation programs, can effectively connect people to the full spectrum of available care options.

3. Financial Protection

The third dimension is financial protection. Just as the name implies, financial protection ensures that accessing medical services does not push individuals into debt and hardship. Support teams play a vital role here by clearly explaining costs, insurance coverage, payment options, and financial aid programs to patients before they receive care. Transparent communication prevents surprise bills and builds trust.

What Is The Theme For International Universal Health Coverage Day 2025?

The 2025 campaign theme is “Unaffordable health costs? We’re sick of it!” In simple terms, it is a reminder that medical care is still not affordable to many individuals. 

It is a reminder to government decision-makers that unaffordable health costs are making our communities sicker. Political leaders have to make policies that will protect families from financial ruin due to excessive medical expenses. For medical service providers, this theme calls for a patient-first approach, billing transparency, proactive financial counseling, and support staff who advocate for patients navigating insurance complexities.

How Governments Can Improve Access to Healthcare

The government plays a major role in making healthcare services accessible to all. Political Leaders must prioritize budget allocations to ensure that healthcare is well-funded. 

The governing bodies in every country must ensure that they provide good roads and infrastructure so people can travel to access medical services.

Decision makers should provide benefits like insurance schemes to people who need them to protect against financial harm.

Lastly, the governments should invest in digital technologies, such as telemedicine, electronic records, and mobile medical platforms. These tools will revolutionize service delivery in a bid to make services more accessible. 

How Can Digital Health Tools Help Achieve Universal Access?

There are several digital tools that help to make essential services more affordable. Telemedicine, for example, allows medical professionals to consult with patients remotely. This reduces travel costs and increases access for people in rural or underserved areas. 

Everyone with access to the internet can track their symptoms, monitor drug taking, and disease progression on a mobile app. 

Additionally, digital platforms enable governments and medical organizations to track disease outbreaks more quickly. As soon as early diagnosis is made, early treatment can help to curb the spread. 

Supporting Health Equity: The Role of Individuals and Communities

The commemoration of International Universal Health Coverage Day is a nudge to individuals and communities at large. Individuals can use their voices to pass the message “health for all” across. 

If you have come across communities that cannot get through to the government, you can help to share their story. You are amplifying the call for change by sharing such messages on social media platforms. 

Communities can organize local events, medical forums, or community wellness fairs to highlight gaps in access to quality services.  

Role Of Organizations In Universal Health Coverage

Global organizations like the WHO, the United Nations, and the World Bank actively support the UHC goal. They do this through funding, sharing resources, creating standards, and supporting programs that improve care quality. 

On the other hand, local and international NGOs can contribute by working directly with communities. They go to the grassroots, to the most affected locations. They go to establish support clinics and to provide awareness.  For marginalized groups who cannot access quality medical services, NGOs take essential services to them. 

At IMANA, we believe that coverage will improve through consistent actions of awareness, advocacy, and providing compassionate support where it’s needed most. 

Funding global programs like this can help us create an equitable health system where everyone gets equal medical services when needed.

This International Universal Health Coverage Day 2025, your donations help to sustain our community outreach programs. You also assist us by increasing our medical relief efforts to impoverished communities.

Head to our site to find out more about our donation and volunteer programs.