Assessments of sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health in the context of universal health coverage in six countries in the WHO European Region: a synthesis of findings from the country reports

Overview

Achieving universal health coverage (‎UHC)‎ – meaning that everyone, everywhere can access essential high-quality health services without facing financial hardship – is a key target of the Sustainable Development Goals. Sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (‎SRMNCAH)‎ is at the core of the UHC agenda and is among the 16 essential health services that WHO uses as indicators of the level and equity of coverage in countries. In this context, WHO undertook an assessment of SRMNCAH in six countries (‎Albania, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova and Romania)‎ in the WHO European Region. This report summarizes health system barriers to UHC for SRMNCAH, including from a gender and rights perspective. By pointing to three major challenges and making related policy recommendations, it highlights specific issues around SRMNCAH. The challenges and recommendations cut across different aspects of the health systems and involve other sectors. The problems encountered are thus likely to affect the system beyond the scope of this assessment, making it a marker of the overall health system functions. The recommendations are intended to contribute to efforts in accelerating progress towards UHC.