Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day on 12 December is the annual rallying point for the growing movement for health for all. UHC Day 2019 is being observed in Bangladesh and elsewhere in the world with the theme- ‘Keep the Promise’.
According to the World Health Organization, UHC means that all people have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship.
The overall objective of the UHC Day is to reaffirm the commitment from multi-sectoral stakeholders towards UHC.
The UHC Day 2019 celebration event was organized by Health Economics Unit (HEU), Health Services Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with support from World Health Organization (WHO) Bangladesh at the CIRDAP auditorium in the Dhaka on 12 December 2019.
Honorable Minister, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Mr Zahid Maleque MP underscored the need for multisectoral approach among different ministries and directorates of the government, development partners, non-government organizations and private sectors for achieving UHC.
Addressing the celebration event of UHC Day 2019 as the Chief Guest, the Minister said, “…achieving UHC is very much related to food security, elimination of poverty, resource mobilization, environment protection, women empowerment, road safety, fire safety and other related issues.
Presided over by Secretary, Health Services Division Md Ashadul Islam, the event was also addressed among others by Secretary, Medical Education and Family Welfare Sheikh Yusuf Harun, Director General of Health Economics Unit (HEU) Dr. Mohd. Shahadt Hossain Mahmud and WHO Country Representative to Bangladesh Dr Bardan Jung Rana.
The presenters and panelists sensitized the government and all relevant stakeholders to guarantee health as a right, not a privilege; functional investment in a society where all people regardless of gender, race, religion, citizenship, age, ability, sexual orientation, or wealth can get the quality health care they need and trust. The day also emphasized on establishing a strong, equitable health systems that truly leave no one behind.
Government has established 13,743 community clinics to ensure primary health care (PHC) to the grass root people. To provide financial protection to households below poverty line the government is implementing a pilot project - Shasthyo Shuroksha Karmasuchi (SSK) in three upazilas of Tangail district. Around 81,619 are receiving inpatient services for 78 diseases free of cost.
The Maternal Health Voucher Scheme (MHVS) for ensuring safe delivery of poor mothers, in operation in 55 upazilas, wherein, specified services are provided by designated health personnel at facilities in the public, the private and the NGO sectors.
Some of the major challenges identified during the event for achieving UHC in Bangladesh include inadequate public investment to health sector; double burden of diseases due to epidemical and demographical transition; inefficiency in resource allocation and utilization; low financial risk protection; shortage of skilled human resource in public and private sectors; unregulated private sector and unsatisfactory quality of health services.
To meet those challenges the discussants emphasized on increasing domestic investment towards primary health care; target-based approach to tackle inequity; harness efficiency gains in resource use by strengthening public financial management; improve financial risk protection, especially for the poor; implement approved human resource strategy and action plan; improve regulatory and enforcement system and promote evidence-based decision making and policy reforms.