New Delhi, 17 April
2012: Health experts from the 11 Member States of WHO’s South-East Asia Region
met in New Delhi on 16-17 April to brainstorm about universal health care in
the Region. WHO is urging countries in the Region to give priority to public
health and the health needs of the poor through appropriate technology and
health systems that are anchored at the community level. The three strategic dimensions for universal
health coverage are: population coverage, where all citizens are covered
by health services irrespective of capacity to pay; a service package offered
universally to all citizens customized to meet ground realities and all
resource needs, including financing; and ensuring utilization, affordability
and sustainability.
Countries have placed
a different emphasis on each of these three dimensions in their path to
universal health coverage. China for example is targeting access to a limited
package of services for its entire population in its first phase of universal
health coverage. Nepal is committed to
providing maternal and child health services free at primary level and
prioritizing better access for the poor in secondary care. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has been successfully
delivering a more comprehensive package for sometime now.
“Equity remains the
underpinning principle that we must not lose sight of” said Dr. Samlee
Plianbangchang, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia. “Health systems are
becoming more complex and health ministries must now lead and coordinate
multi-sector action for improving health for all”.
Experience shared
from Costa Rica at the consultation highlighted the importance of leadership
and governance in maintaining solidarity for equity. This has been at the core of Costa Rica’s
50-year trajectory to universal health coverage even at low and middle levels
of GDP. Importantly, health has been
part of a broader effort for social development which has had a reinforcing
impact on health, and particularly on education.
Influences outside
the health sector impact health as well, such as, the rising burden from
high-cost, life-style related noncommunicable diseases, health risks from
climate change, social determinants of health and health implications of the
financial crisis.
Bhutan is now leading
the world in reassessing our priorities as captured by economic growth. The UN
is discussing indicators for Gross National Happiness (GNH) to replace
measuring of GDP to capture development.
The nine domains under the four pillars of GNH are: living standards,
health, education, culture, ecological integrity, community vitality, time use,
good governance, and psychological wellbeing.
Universal health
coverage must prioritize the poor and public health including a renewed focus
on cost-effective prevention and promotion activities by revitalizing Primary
Health Care (PHC). This is the feasible and sustainable way forward given the
resource context of countries of South-East Asia.
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