A path to universal coverage: Perspectives from human rights

Purpose: The WHO has advanced the need to move toward universal health coverage (UHC) in all countries and has called for it to be done pursuant to a rights-based approach. This presentation will explain what considerations that would entail. Data/Information Used: The data considered for this presentation include existing human rights frameworks, judicial decisions, and current proposals for UHC. Methods: This talk is based upon conceptual analysis of the data, as well as the author's participation in the WHO-led initiative on Fairness and UHC. Results: Human rights frameworks, and in particular the right to the highest attainable standard of health, have significant contributions to make to debates about reducing cost-sharing, including more people, and expanding available treatments, which the WHO has identified as the three axes of moving toward UHC. Recommendations/Policy Implications: The post 2015 international development framework may well include the goal of UHC as the overarching health goal. It is still unclear how UHC might be defined, how equity and human rights concerns might be incorporated, and what targets and indicators might be put forward to measure achievement of UHC in a future global development framework. International human rights law provides guidelines as to criteria for the development of UHC as a goal, as well as possible relevant targets and indicators.