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Chapter 3 - Universal Health Coverage and Health System Strengthening

from Section 1 - Analyzing Health Systems: Concepts, Components, Performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 December 2022

By
Awad Mataria ,
Sameh El-Saharty ,
Sumit Mazumdar ,
Abdinasir Abubakar ,
Rana Hajjeh  and
Sameen Siddiqi
Edited by
Sameen Siddiqi ,
Awad Mataria ,
Katherine D. Rouleau  and
Meesha Iqbal
Sameen Siddiqi
Affiliation:
Aga Khan University
Awad Mataria
Affiliation:
World Health Organization, Egypt
Katherine D. Rouleau
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
Meesha Iqbal
Affiliation:
UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston
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Summary

This Chapter examines the evolution in global thinking on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the role of Health Systems Strengthening. It describes the path from primary health care to health systems and UHC. The concept of UHC is elucidated by introducing its dimensions, intermediary objectives and ultimate goals; and by explaining what it does and does not mean in practice. The Chapter also explains how progress towards UHC can be measured and hence monitored as per the Sustainable Development Agenda. It also summarizes the challenges that low and middle-income countries (L&MICs) face to advance UHC. The Chapter concludes by illustrating the interlinkage between UHC and health security based on lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords

Universal Health CoverageHealth System StrengtheningUHC definitionService coverageFinancial protectionPopulation coverageUHC measurementService coverage indexCatastrophic health expendituresImpoverishmentUHC challengesGlobal health securityL&MIC
Type
Chapter
Information
Making Health Systems Work in Low and Middle Income Countries
Textbook for Public Health Practitioners
 , pp. 34 - 50
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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References

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