Other considerations than: how much will universal health coverage cost?

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Health Economics
• Public Health

Background:

• Global commitment to progressive realization of universal health coverage (UHC).
• Need for financial protection against high healthcare spending.
• Challenges in estimating national revenue for UHC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To guide policymakers in the progressive realization of UHC.
• To identify pitfalls in using global expenditure targets for UHC revenue estimation.
• To provide recommendations for estimating national revenue for UHC.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of pitfalls in applying global normative expenditure targets.
• Development of recommendations for estimating national revenue.
• Emphasis on national health-care reforms and policy choices.
• Recommendation of costing exercises for comparing service delivery options.
• Advocacy for investment in data infrastructure for policy improvement.

Main Results:

• Critique of global expenditure targets for UHC revenue estimation.
• Recommendations shift focus from 'how much UHC costs' to 'how to achieve UHC'.
• Costing exercises identified as valuable tools for decision-making.
• Data infrastructure investment crucial for informed policy development.

Conclusions:

• Effective UHC realization depends on strategic national reforms and policy choices.
• Moving beyond cost-centric approaches is essential for progress towards UHC.
• Investment in data and analytical tools supports evidence-based policymaking for UHC.