Universal Health Day 2024
Universal Health: Equitable access with financial protection
Thursday, 12 December - 12:00 p.m. (EST)
Background
Achieving Universal Health (UH) is essential to building equitable, resilient societies where all individuals have access to necessary healthcare without financial hardship. In the Americas, after significative advance in reducing catastrophic health expenses, between 1.5% and 7.8% of the population continued to face them in 2019; a reality affecting 15 million to 79 million people, depending on the income threshold used (25% or 10% of household income, respectively).
In the context of the Universal Health Day, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) presents the regional report, “Progress in universal health in the Americas: Addressing unmet healthcare needs, gaps in coverage, and lack of financial protection, through Primary Health Care.
Objectives of the event:
1. Present key findings from PAHO’s regional report, focusing on unmet healthcare needs, service coverage, and financial protection.
2. To hear from PAHO/WHO member states on success stories and best practices, and reaffirm commitments to UHC goals.
3. Reaffirm PAHO/WHO’s call for member states to invest in health systems that prioritize equity, financial protection, and access to care for all.
Preliminary agenda:
12:00 p.m. (EST): Jarbas Barbosa, Director, PAHO. Opening remarks. (video)
12:05 p.m. (EST): Ernesto Báscolo, Unit Chief, Primary Health Care and Integrated Service Delivery, PAHO/WHO. Regional Report Presentation: Progress in Universal Health in the Americas: Addressing unmet healthcare needs, gaps in coverage, and lack of financial protection, through primary health care.
12:15 p.m. (EST): Country experiences in the Region: Reflections and comments from national experiences. Short interventions (5 minutes each) from country representatives who will share their experiences, challenges, and initiatives to improve Universal Health, and financial protection. Their insights will showcase regional diversity in tackling health access barriers.
12:25 p.m. (EST): James Fitzgerald, Director, Department of Health Systems and Services, PAHO/WHO. Closing Remarks.