Make universal health coverage a national priority- UAHC

Civil Societies in the Health Sector are urging the government to take the lead in pushing for the adoption of the World Health Organization’s proposed Health Goal, ‘Ensure healthy lives and Universal Health Coverage at All Ages’ as the health goal in the Post 2015 Development Framework.

The Civil Societies are of the view that the proposed WHO’s health goal with its sub-goals are more realistic and achievable than what has been proposed by the UN Open Working Group in the Post 2015 Development Framework.

These concerns were raised at the end of a Sensitization Workshop on the Post 2015 Development Framework and Consultation Processes. The workshop was organized by the lead organization of the Civil Societies, Universal Access to Healthcare Campaign, (UAHC).

The Eight UN Millennium Development Goals will expire in 2015. A process is already in place to replace the MDGs with the 17 proposed Sustainable Development Goals from 2016 to 2030. Goal 3 focused on Health. 

The WHO’s proposed health goal has 4 sub-goals on Achieving the MDGs for Child & Maternal Health and for major communicable disease, addressing the burden of non-communicable dieses, injuries and mental , achieve universal health coverage including financial risk protection and addressing the social and environmental determinants of health.

Touching on the importance of Universal Health Coverage, the National Coordinator of UAHC, Sidua Hor, noted that Universal Health Coverage is consistent with World Health Organization (WHO)’s concepts of Health for All and Primary Health Care. This involves investment in infrastructure, well trained human resources, health systems strengthening, a good screening and referral network and a good preventive programme.

The National Coordinator admitted that no country can achieve Universal Health Coverage over night and urged the Key Health Stakeholders to adopt the best approach that meets the health needs of Ghana supported by a financing model that is sustainable. Mr. Hor said, since the Post 2015 Development Framework is going to be State driven, there is the need for greater and active participation of stakeholders such as Civil Society, the Private Sector , Businesses, Academia and Scientists.

Presentations were made on the Thematic Areas for the Post 2015 Development Framework and the Proposed Goal for health as well as the Monitoring Framework. The Sensitization Workshop was attended by about sixty participants made up of Civil Society Organizations and NGOs in Health.