Core Components of Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Achieving “Healthcare Without Financial Hardship” in Asia-Pacific and Japan

Core Components of Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Achieving “Healthcare Without Financial Hardship” in Asia-Pacific and Japan

Held ahead of the UHC High-Level Forum 2025 and aligned with the International UHC Day 2025 theme ("Unaffordable health costs? We’re sick of it!"), the event aims to link global UHC momentum with Japan's critical domestic challenge: the fiscal pressure and controversial reform discussions surrounding its national safety net, the High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit System. The goal is to leverage international frameworks (like ADB's UHC PEERS and UHC2030) and integrate civil society/patient perspectives to formulate equitable and sustainable policy recommendations, including necessary considerations for long-term patients.

Date & Time: Friday, December 5, 2025, 14:30 – 16:30 JST

Venue: Global Business Hub Tokyo (Capacity: approx. 60)

3F, Otemachi Financial City Grand Cube, 1-9-2 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Format: Roundtable Discussion (Panel format including Q&A), Semi-Invitation Only

Language: English & Japanese (Simultaneous interpretation recommended via AI-assisted real-time transcription)

Co-hosts (Tentative): UHC2030, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI), Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for UHC2030 (CSEM), Global Health Civil Society Network (GH Network)

Key Discussion Points:

1. Global and Regional Context: Strategies for accelerating UHC and strengthening Financial Risk Protection in the Asia-Pacific region, where millions are pushed into poverty by medical costs.

2. Japan's Model and Challenges: Sharing Japan's experience with the High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit System as a policy lesson, while addressing the domestic debates surrounding fiscal pressures and potential reforms (e.g., raising out-of-pocket caps).

3. Equity and Inclusion: Integrating the perspectives of civil society and patient advocates to ensure the principles of equity guide financial protection policies, specifically advocating for considerations like annual out-of-pocket caps for long-term patients.

4. International Collaboration & Recommendations: Identifying collaborative actions and policy recommendations for sustainable and just UHC financing.

Target Audience: Health and finance officials from LMICs in Asia-Pacific, development bank partners, policymakers, health economists, civil society/community representatives, patient advocates, and private sector stakeholders.