7 ways the private sector can contribute to universal health coverage
Health expenditures are rising – but government funding has stalled, and personal spending is filling the gap. A June 2019 World Bank report, for example, found people in developing countries, including the Caribbean, spend half a trillion dollars (over $800 per person) annually on out-of-pocket payments.
Universal health coverage (UHC) is about ensuring all individuals and communities have access to the healthcare they need. UHC does not mean healthcare is free, but that personal out-of-pocket payments do not deter people from using health services, and that people are protected from “catastrophic health expenditure” (i.e. spending more than 30% of their household income on health).
