Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is a foundational investment in human capital to drive sustainable, inclusive economic growth. Yet, half the world’s population still does not have access to quality health services, while 100 million people are forced into extreme poverty every year due to health expenses. This represents a crisis in health financing, which not only impedes progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for health, but also holds back progress on the central SDG goal of ending poverty by 2030.

At a flagship event, co-hosted in partnership with the Government of Japan and the World Health Organization, leaders from around the world discussed how countries are pursuing reforms and investments, building political commitment and going beyond business as usual to ensure that all people receive needed quality health services without financial hardship.