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Universal Health Coverage
HEALTH

Universal Health Coverage

Universal health coverage (UHC) means everyone can access quality health services without suffering financial hardship. It is the foundation for human capital and economic growth
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UHC High‑Level Forum and National Health Compacts
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Learn More
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2025/12/06/national-health-compacts-reforms-expand-affordable-care-create-jobs-boost-economic-growth
At the UHC High‑Level Forum, governments launched National Health Compacts outlining reforms to expand affordable primary care and create jobs, with 15 countries already adopting compacts.
OUR APPROACH TO
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UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE
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RESULTS & IMPACT
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ON UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE
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375M reached
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Countries and partners have already helped reach 375 million people with quality, affordable health services, with work underway across roughly 45 countries to scale proven primary care approaches.
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6M more reached in Argentina
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In Argentina, the long-running Plan Nacer and SUMAR programs helped expand effective health coverage to 6 million people by mid-2022, using incentives and a prioritized benefit package to reach previously uninsured and vulnerable populations.
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$1 invested yields up to $16
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Each $1 invested in stronger primary health care can yield up to $16 in economic benefits, supporting healthier workforces and productivity gains while tackling chronic disease risks.
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https://delivery-p136806-e1377785.adobeaemcloud.com/adobe/assets/urn:aaid:aem:d7fa1441-6857-4b40-bc73-5118dce2043d/as/World%20Bank%20Data%20Playground.avif
Health Scorecard: People receiving quality health services
https://scorecard.worldbank.org/en/data/result-details/CSC_RES_HEA_SERV?orgCode=ALL&refareatype=REGION&refareacode=ACW&age=_T&disability=_T&sex=_T
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World Bank Group health indicators help track outcomes and measure success.
Scorecard
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results
Transforming Health: The World Bank's Shift from Crisis Response to Building Health System Resilience in Latin America and the Caribbean
https://www.worldbank.org/en/results/2024/11/01/-transforming-health-the-world-bank-s-shift-from-crisis-response-to-building-health-system-resilience-in-latin-america-a
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results
Stronger Primary Health Care Can Boost Growth and Create Jobs across East Asia and Pacific
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2026/01/21/stronger-primary-health-care-can-boost-growth-and-create-jobs-across-east-asia-and-pacific
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RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS

More Research & Publications
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/search?query=universal%20health%20coverage
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REPORT
Tracking Universal Health Coverage (UHC): 2025 Global Monitoring Report
Tracking Universal Health Coverage (UHC): 2025 Global Monitoring Report
Globally, more people receive the essential health care they need and a smaller share of the population experienced health-related financial hardship compared to two decades ago. However, progress has slowed during the last decade and billions will still lack access to care and face health-cost-related financial hardship by 2030.
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/universalhealthcoverage/publication/2025-global-monitoring-report-gmr
Read Report
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/universalhealthcoverage/publication/2025-global-monitoring-report-gmr
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DISCUSSION PAPER
https://delivery-p136806-e1377785.adobeaemcloud.com/adobe/assets/urn:aaid:aem:c89c45f3-4a53-427c-95d3-6be67d77bb06/as/Investing-in-health-pathways-fiscal-pivot-report-cover.avif
Progress Toward 1.5 Billion Health Care Goal Advances as Countries Adopt National Health
Investing in Health: Pathways for a Fiscal Pivot
How low- and lower middle-income countries (LLMICs) can expand government health spending to accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage.
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/cf1f5885-24c6-4863-ae54-7a61851d57a4
Read Paper
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/cf1f5885-24c6-4863-ae54-7a61851d57a4
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MORE ON
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UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE
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OUR PARTNERS
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IN UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE
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Health

Investing in a skilled, healthy workforce, infrastructure, and technology are crucial for economic growth, job creation, and security.

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