International Universal Health Coverage Day 2024

Dec 10

In comparison to other commemorative days proposed by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, the acknowledgement of International Universal Health Coverage Day is relatively newer but equally as important. On December 12, 2012, the UN General Assembly proposed that every member state of the UN work towards the goal of implementing the concept of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) into their respective national health policies. Five years later in 2017, the UN declared the 12th of December as the International Universal Health Coverage Day.

At its core, UHC is the belief that every person throughout the world should have access to the full range of quality and affordable health care without the risk of financial hardship, and if nations do not yet have this policy, their governments need to take steps towards making this goal into a reality. A full range of services means that clients will be treated from continuum of health care services including health promotion and prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and even palliative care. This goal is embedded in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target 3.8 which aims to achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.

The three dimensions of UHC include population coverage (determining who receives services), service coverage (determining what health services are available), and financial protection (ensuring health services do not lead to financial hardship). Accordingly, the social justice principles that UHC is based on include equity, non-discrimination and the right to health which ensures that no one is left behind and that even the most marginalized communities are granted access and coverage for the treatment that they need.

This day reminds us of the need for strong health care systems that benefit everyone, regardless of factors such as identity, socioeconomic status or geographical location. Countries that invest in UHC policies understand that it helps to improve equity and social cohesion in their societies as well as benefits the national economy by improving health and well-being, leading to a strong healthy workforce from all sectors of society which helps to build resilience in their people, families and communities.

Unfortunately, this day also reminds us of the major disparity in health coverage worldwide, as statistically 4.5 billion around the world still do not live in countries that have access to essential health services, which places them at high risk for disease and death; especially women, children and the most vulnerable. Additionally, due to the effects of financial protection deteriorating over the last 20 years and the mismanagement of health spending, this has led to 2 billion people experiencing financial hardship and 1.3 billion people pushed into poverty.

In Canada, the country has adopted a universal health care system which is funded by taxes. This is part of Canada’s federal legislation for publicly funded health care insurance, and what constitutes the Canada Health Act. Through this system, any Canadian citizen or permanent resident can apply for public health insurance. Within this system, it’s important to note that the different provinces and territories that make up Canada each have their own health plans that cover different services and products. Once you are added to your province’s health system, you will receive a health card that you must show in order to receive insured hospital and physician services. In general, with public health insurance you wouldn’t have to pay for most health care services as well as emergency medical services (even without your health care card, but with some restrictions) and you will also receive care in a confidential manner where doctors can’t discuss your health information without your consent. To learn more about the plan including eligibility, how to apply and where to apply, click here.

In Alberta, health coverage provided by the province is referred to as the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP). In accordance with the Canada Health Act, Alberta is one of the many provinces that has a publicly administered and funded health care system and one that guarantees that Albertans receive access to medically necessary hospital and health care services. All new residents to Alberta or returning residents must register for AHCIP coverage to receive this plan and their own individualized Alberta Health Care card. Although there are fair criticisms to this health care system and it is by no means a perfect system, it is a step in the right direction in terms of accessibility and affordability to Albertans, and more improvements can be made. To apply into the AHCIP program, you can click here. Once you are registered into the program and ready to find a family doctor, you can click here.

However, as noted earlier with the differences in coverage between the provinces, it’s important to be informed and understand the distinction between what is covered in Alberta and what is not, especially when you are making decisions about her own health or making a decision for others. For a list of health services that ARE covered in Alberta, you can click here. For a list of health services NOT covered in Alberta, you can click here.

For social workers in Alberta, we experience firsthand how government policy can affect its people, but by adopting universal health care in Canada, it demonstrates the nation’s commitment to addressing the social determinants of health and health inequalities that affect its people. It’s also important for social workers in Alberta to be well aware of any potential changes in policy that could affect how health care is distributed, whether it remains a publicly funded model or shifts to a model of privatization. Despite any changes that may or may not occur, social workers must continue to advocate for their clients and their right to receive the care that they need.

In a world where advancement in technology have greatly modernized the health care systems and treatments including antibiotics and vaccines continue to be manufactured and made more available, the goal of reaching UHC as a worldwide policy can be both realistic and attainable and if implemented would benefit everyone as long as governments are able to invest in the health of all it’s people, and we have seen this what this can look like in Canada.

As Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General for the World Health Organization once said: “Universal health coverage is one of the most powerful social equalizers among all policy options.”

Written by MSW practicum student, Erik Yuson.