From Commitments to Action: Civil Society Perspectives on Reaching Universal Health Coverage

The UHC2030 State of Commitment to UHC review provides a multi-stakeholder view of the status of UHC. It includes country data profiles that present a snapshot of the key commitment areas in the 2019 Political Declaration on UHC and a global synthesis report with inputs from a range of stakeholders, including civil society.

From Commitments to Action: Civil Society Perspectives on Reaching Universal Health Coverage summarizes results from 19 focus groups conducted alongside this multi-stakeholder review process. They were planned and led by the Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for UHC2030 (CSEM) with APCASO, Global Health Council, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Living Goods, NCD Alliance, People’s Health Movement, UNAIDS, and country partners.

The focus group conversations highlighted important issues that governments and other decision-makers should address to ensure UHC policies are inclusive and equitable. Participants were mostly representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs) and networks, or communities often left behind. Their understanding of the progress made in each commitment area complements the multi-stakeholder review process with stories of lived experience, ground-level insights on the gaps in policy and practice, and recommendations for the road ahead.

We hope these reflections and recommendations from civil society serve as signposts on the road to the 2023 UN High Level Meeting on UHC, the next global opportunity to convene all stakeholders and recommit to achieving health for all.