UHC Day 2024 is in one week!
Dear UHC advocate,
Thank you for reading this year’s UHC Day Updates! Our campaign prep series is complete, but we have one final message before the big day.
Every year, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day reminds us of a critical truth: health is a human right, not a privilege. Yet, millions of people are forced into poverty each year when paying for health services. This year’s theme—Health: It’s on the government—reminds governments that it is their responsibility to ensure the right to health. Because nobody should have to choose between their health and their livelihood.
When people can access the care they need without financial hardship, communities thrive. Families remain productive, children can go to school, and small businesses grow, free from the fear that a medical emergency could wipe out their savings. Investing in UHC isn’t just morally right; it’s economically smart. Research consistently shows that countries with strong UHC systems experience greater economic stability and social cohesion.
But achieving UHC requires action from all of us. Governments must prioritize financial protection for health, and civil society must hold leaders accountable. As individuals, we can amplify the call for policies that guarantee access to essential health services and protect people from impoverishing health costs.
This UHC Day, join advocates and organizations worldwide to demand a future where healthcare is accessible to all—without causing financial ruin. Write to your decision makers, attend and promote events, share stories and quotes, and use the toolkit materials and the hashtag #UHCDay to spread the message.
Together, we can build a just and inclusive world, where health is not a privilege for a few, but a protected right for all.
So, where will you start?
The big surprise:
You’re invited to this year’s UHC Day town hall!
Join us on 11 December at 2 p.m. CET for a discussion between youth and parliamentarians on UHC and financial protection.
During the session, we will:
Celebrate the outstanding mobilization of youth advocates to call for more and urgent action to advance UHC and protect people from impoverishing health costs.
Take stock of the financial barriers that cause too many people to delay or miss out on health care, and what governments can do to address these barriers and protect the fundamental right to health.
Highlight the benefits of UHC and the urgent need to shape health policies and budgets that are inclusive and equitable, and that cover health costs for the entire population.
A Q&A session will allow participants to ask questions to youth advocates and parliamentarians.