April 7, 2018-World Health Day
"No one should have to choose between death and financial hardship.
No one should have to choose between buying medicine and buying food."
WHO Director-General
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not just the absence of disease and infirmity. For more than seventy years, "health for all"has been the guiding principle of the World Health Organization. Priority is given to achieving universal health coverage (UHS).
In 2018, World Health Day will be held under the slogan: "Health for all #HealthForAll"
The theme of World Health Day 2018 — Universal health coverage: for everyone and everywhere
The main ideas of the World Health Day
- Universal health coverage means that all people can receive quality health services where and when they need them, without experiencing financial difficulties.
- No one should have to choose between good health and other life needs.
- VOSE is the key to the health and well-being of peoples and countries.
- VOSE is achievable. Some countries have made great strides. Their task is to maintain coverage at a level that meets people's expectations.
- Different countries will move differently towards the HEI-there is no universal remedy. But every country should make efforts to ensure the provision of HEI.
- To ensure truly universal health services, it is essential that health systems focus not on diseases and institutions, but on people.
- Everyone can contribute to the provision of the HEI by participating in the HEI discussions.
What is VOSE?
- VHS means that all people and communities receive the health services they need without suffering from financial difficulties.
- UHS means that everyone can access services that address the most important causes of morbidity and mortality, and that the quality of these services is good enough to improve the health of the people who receive them.
What does VOSE not include?
- UHS does not mean that there will be free coverage of all possible health services, regardless of cost, because no country can provide sustainable free provision of all services.
- HHS implies not only a minimum package of health services, but also a gradual expansion of health coverage and financial protection as additional resources become available.
- VHS involves not only the medical treatment of individuals, but also services for the entire population, such as public health campaigns – for example, the fluoridation of water or the destruction of breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry disease-causing viruses.
- HEI is not just about health care and the financing of countries ' health systems. It includes all components of health systems, such as health care systems and health service providers, health facilities and communication networks, health technology, information systems, quality assurance mechanisms, and governance and legislation.
