The United Nations Office at Geneva

Underinvestment threatens universal health coverage goals

Coinciding with Universal Health Coverage Day on Thursday the World Health Organization (WHO) released its 2024 Global Health Expenditure Report, revealing troubling declines in government health spending.

The report, titled Global Spending on Health: Emerging from the Pandemic, shows a reduction in per capita government health expenditures in 2022 across all income groups, following a surge during the early COVID-19Opens in new window pandemic years.

This concerning trend undermines progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a goal enshrined in the Sustainable Development GoalsOpens in new window (SDGsOpens in new window), the agency said.

This year, Universal Health Coverage Day emphasises the urgent need for governments to prioritise financial protection, ensuring access to essential health services for all without risking financial hardship.

Read more: https://www.ungeneva.org/en/news-media/news/2024/12/101311/underinvestment-threatens-universal-health-coverage-goals