December 12 is Universal Health Coverage Day.

World Health Assembly resolution WHA78.11 “Rare diseases: a global health priority for equity and inclusion” emphasizes that progress toward universal health coverage (UHC) is impossible without the inclusion of people living with rare diseases, their families, and caregivers. Countries must accelerate progress toward UHC by 2030, ensuring access to essential care without catastrophic costs.

What does UHC mean?

Every person receives quality health care and essential medicines without facing catastrophic financial consequences.

To mark UHC Day, the WHO and World Bank have released a draft global report, “Tracking universal health coverage: 2025 Global Monitoring Report.” Let's take a closer look at the trends we're seeing globally.

Two main indicators are used for analysis:

1. Health Service Coverage Index (3.8.1)

A composite indicator (0–100) calculated based on 14 indicators reflecting the availability of key types of care: maternal and child health, services for communicable diseases, services for common non-communicable diseases, and system capacity (staff, infrastructure, basic services).

2. Catastrophic Health Spending Index (3.8.2)

The proportion of the population whose out-of-pocket expenses undermine the financial stability of the family.

Global UHC Dynamics

• For the first time in 20 years, the number of countries with extremely low coverage has decreased to a minimum – only 8 countries remain in the bottom group (index <40). In the early 2000s, there were more than 30 such countries.

• 47 countries worldwide have graduated from the "low coverage" category (less than 55 points) and moved into the higher range. This is the largest improvement in 20 years.

• The global average index increased to 71, but 90% of the improvements were in services for infections and maternal and child health; Coverage of chronic disease services is growing significantly more slowly.

• Coverage growth is slowing: after 2015, the rate of progress is almost half that of the period 2000–2015. The world is not on track to achieve true universal coverage by 2030.

• Catastrophic spending continues to rise in middle-income countries. About 2.1 billion people face catastrophic spending, and its share is increasing primarily among vulnerable groups and families with a high burden of chronic diseases.

• Inequality between countries persists: the gap in the UHC index between country income groups exceeds 30 points and has barely narrowed over the past 10 years.

The next post will analyze data for CIS countries.

Read the draft WHO report (https://drive.google.com/file/d/17TEJOcu72LRdll9PN32nn4XbbMCd3Bam/view?usp=sharing)