U H C Partnership Annual Report 2023: Strengthening health systems to achieve universal health coverage (advanced version)

The U H C Partnership (U H C-P) is W H O’s largest platform for international cooperation on universal health coverage (U H C) and primary health care (P H C). It comprises a broad mix of health experts working to promote U H C and P H C by fostering policy dialogue on strategic planning and health systems governance, developing health financing strategies and supporting their implementation, and enabling effective development cooperation in countries.
The U H C-P’s focus is to contribute to the achievement
of the Triple Billion targets:
• 1 billion more people benefiting from U H C
• 1 billion more people better protected from health emergencies
• 1 billion more people enjoying better health and well-being.
As the foundations of W H O’s Thirteenth General Programme of Work, 2019–2025 (G P W 13), the Triple Billion targets serve as both measurements and policy strategies. The measurement of these targets has been aligned with those of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to reduce the burden on countries for data collection and to streamline efforts to accelerate progress towards achieving key targets. Strengthening data collection and monitoring at all levels is key to achieving both the Triple Billion targets and the SDGs, and has long-term implications for improving global health.

This annual report is organized around the themes of the Triple Billion Targets of W H O’s General Programme of Work and the strengthening of health information systems and data collection. The examples and outcomes highlighted are all from 2023, showcasing both country-specific and regional achievements. Additionally, the report includes in-depth analyses of specific country achievements and themes pertinent to achieving Universal Health Coverage (U H C). Over the past 13 years, the Universal Health Coverage Partnership (U H C-P) has expanded its support from seven target countries in 2011, encompassing the W H O regions of Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South-East Asia, and the Western Pacific, to providing assistance and technical expertise in advancing Universal Health Coverage (U H C) in over 125 countries and areas by 2023. More than 145 U H C-P-funded Health Policy Advisors, stationed in various countries and regional offices, address the needs articulated by ministries of health. Simultaneously, they build trust, enhance
capacities, and develop technical expertise for medium and long-term UHC objectives.
On 22 October 2023, the U H C-P organized a workshop in Astana, Kazakhstan, over 250 delegates from ministries of health, development partners, and W H O country offices globally participated. This pre- conference workshop was strategically held a day prior to the international conference marking the 45th anniversary of the Alma-Ata Declaration and the 5th anniversary of the Astana Declaration. The event was organized by the W H O
Regional Office for Europe in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Government of Kazakhstan. The workshop served as a crucial platform for countries to explore the interconnections between PHC and Universal Health Coverage (UHC), delve into the political dynamics of health system reforms, and identify key success factors that have fostered innovation and investment in P H C, aiming for better implementation in the near future.
The U H C-P has firmly established itself as an essential pillar in providing in-country support for health systems strengthening. It continues to uphold its commitment to aiding Member States in achieving U H C. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus on
reducing health inequities and ensuring affordable access to health services remains vital. Through a combination of policy dialogue and technical assistance, the U H C-P offers tailored support to meet each country’s specific goals in progressing towards U H C.