The world spends more money for health — on the road to UHC, let’s strive for better health for the money!

Abstract

The case is clear: health is an investment, not a cost. Ample evidence exists of the returns on investment it yields. From skill-intensive jobs stemming from investment in health services to poverty reduction, the correlation between health sector development and economic growth is well demonstrated.1 Beyond this, investment in health increases productivity, reduces treatment costs and protects countries from the dire economic and social impacts of outbreaks and other health emergencies. Yet in 2015, only about half of the world’s population had access to essential health services, and a staggering 100 million people were still falling into extreme poverty because of paying for health services out of their own pockets.2 Despite these bleak figures, WHO is convinced that universal health coverage (UHC) is not a luxury that only rich country can afford. Domestic public financing is key for all countries on their journey towards UHC and the health-related …