Universal Health Coverage Day 2021
Each year on 12 December Universal Health Coverage Day presents an opportunity for the United Nations, WHO and partners across the globe to urge countries to accelerate progress toward universal health coverage and raise awareness of the importance of building strong and resilient health systems that can provide affordable and quality health care for everyone, everywhere.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the critical need for preparedness in the face of health emergencies and highlighted huge disparities in countries’ abilities to cope with and recover from the crisis.
As we enter the third year of the pandemic, countries must strengthen health systems to ensure they are equitable, resilient and capable of meeting everyone’s health needs, and to maintain progress towards universal health coverage – a basic human right – and fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Events
Expo 2020 has dedicated a full day to celebrate key milestones in the journey towards universal health coverage, an essential priority for international development.
Universal Health Coverage Day at Expo Dubai
12 December, 9:30-17:40, UTC/GMT +4 hours
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Global Monitoring Report on Universal Health Coverage 2021 and Financial Protection Report 2021
13 December, 15:00-16:30 CET
Release of Global Expenditure Report 2021
15 December, 14:00-15:30 CET
The Global Survey on HTA and Health Benefit Packages: Interactive Database and Findings
16 December 2021, 14:00-15:00 CET
There will be a photo-op with all participants at the start line of the walk. Afterwards, 300 frontline workers wearing white coats or Walk the Talk t-shirts, alongside delegates from different pavilions holding their countries’ flags, will walk on a designated path of 3.5 km around Expo to advocate for increased physical activity. The walk will take between 45 and 60 minutes. Participants will be offered snacks and water as they arrive at the Sports, Fitness and Wellbeing hub.
Publications
Related links
Universal Health Coverage Day - Expo 2020 (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
Universal Health Coverage Day 2021 gobal campaign
Highlights of the UHC Day 2021 campaign coverage
The number of total UHC Day mentions (tagging @UHC_Day and/or using #UHCDay and #HealthForAll) on social media, from 11/29-12/14
The number of countries with visitors to the uhcday.org site
The number of international articles and blogs focused on UHC thus far, including national UHC policies and programs, COVID-19, Walk the Talk and the global monitoring reports
UHC Day Champion videos and quote graphics submitted and shared on social media
The number of participants in this year’s Walk the Talk challenge
The number of total steps counted during the 4th annual Walk the Talk – far surpassing our goal of 5 million!
adverse events occur in hospitals in low- and middle-income countries
patient deaths every year
patients is harmed while receiving hospital care in high-income countries
trees chopped down to make cigarettes
tonnes of CO2 emissions released into the air raising global temperatures
litres of water used to make cigarettes