OBJECTIVES to explore nurses' knowledge of universal health coverage (UHC) for inclusive and sustainable development of elderly care services. METHOD this was a cross-sectional survey. A convenience sample of 326 currently practicing enrolled nurses (EN) or registered nurses (RN) was recruited. Respondents completed a questionnaire which was based on the implementation strategies advocated by...

BACKGROUND The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is characterized by much diversity in terms of geography, society, economic development, and health outcomes. The health systems as well as healthcare structure and provisions vary considerably. Consequently, the progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in these countries also varies. This paper aims to describe the progress t...

BACKGROUND Universal health coverage (UHC) is important in terms of improving access to quality health care while protecting households from the risk of catastrophic health spending and impoverishment. However, progress to UHC has been hampered by the measures to increase mandatory prepaid funds especially in low- and middle-income countries where there are large populations in the informal sec...

Correspondence to Abdur Razzaque Sarker; [email protected] Bangladesh is among the most densely populated countries in the world and has enjoyed a steady annual economic growth of 5–6% for more than a decade. According to the Bangladesh economic review, the incidence of poverty has declined considerably from 56.7% in 1991–1992 to 24.8% in 2015. The demographic structure of Bangladesh is chan...

In her 2012 reconfi rmation speech as WHO DirectorGeneral, Dr Margaret Chan asserted: “universal coverage is the single most powerful concept that public health has to off er. It is our ticket to greater effi ciency and better quality. It is our saviour from the crushing weight of chronic noncommunicable diseases that now engulf the globe”. The UN General Assembly is currently considering propo...

The concept of universal health coverage (UHC) is now well established and understood as the aspiration that all people can obtain the quality health services they need without the risk of suffering financial hardship because of the need to pay out-of-pocket. Resolutions in the World Health Assembly (1,2), Regional Committees (3), and the UN General Assembly (4) have urged countries to develop ...

Underpinning the global commitment to universal health coverage (UHC) is the fundamental role of health for well-being and sustainable development. UHC is proposed as an umbrella health goal in the post-2015 sustainable development agenda because it implies universal and equitable effective delivery of comprehensive health services by a strong health system, aligned with multiple sectors around...

BACKGROUND The need to provide quality and equitable health services and protect populations from impoverishing health care costs has pushed universal health coverage (UHC) to the top of global health policy agenda. In many developing countries where the majority of the population works in the informal sector, there are critical debates over the best financing mechanisms to progress towards UHC...

When is a country financially ready to implement universal health coverage (UHC), a health policy designed to ensure that all citizens receive the health services they need without financial hardship? Since no standard set of essential health services or a defined benefits package for universal coverage exists, determining financial readiness is challenging. Health priorities must be set knowin...

BACKGROUND The UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in September 2015, include a comprehensive health goal, "to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being at all ages." The health goal (SDG 3) has nine substantive targets and four additional targets which are identified as a means of implementation. One of these commitments, to achieve universal health coverage (UHC), has been ac...