Universal Health Coverage

The role for the private sector in health remains subject to much debate, especially within the context of achieving universal health coverage (UHC). Another reason for this debate stems from the multiple and complex processes implicated in achieving UHC. While the overarching aim of UHC is to ensure that everyone has access to affordable and quality health products and services regardless of background, in practice this requires strengthening health financing for and service provision of, an agreed package of basic health services across a broad population. Yet there remains no blueprint for how this might be accomplished. This session will focus on the new economy of health and the existing and future contributions of the private sector toward the achievement of UHC in mixed health systems. It is the third workshop in a progressive series hosted by the World Health Summit exploring UHC and the dimensions of innovation, equity, and the new economy of health.