Health is a human right. When people are not able to access the healthcare they need, especially if this is for reasons of cost, their human rights are denied. It is vital for the wider fight for rights, justice and sustainable development that policymakers’ actions are informed by this linkage.
Endorsed by the United Nations, the world has just marked 12 December as the very first official Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day. Universal health coverage is built on principles of equity and fairness, with health services allocated according to people’s needs and the health system financed according to people’s ability to pay.
As Secretary-General of the United Nations, I was proud to launch the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 as a roadmap to a better planet for current and future generations. All world leaders committed to delivering UHC when they signed up to the goals, and they now have 12 years to deliver on their promise.
After stepping down from the UN, I joined The Elders, a group of independent world leaders set up by Nelson Mandela who work for peace, justice and human rights.
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