Universal Health Coverage: Reorienting health systems to primary health care

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is the goal of ensuring that all people have access to the health services they need, without suffering financial hardship. Achieving UHC requires a reorientation of health systems towards primary health care (PHC), which is the first point of contact for people with health concerns and is delivered through a comprehensive and integrated approach. A strong PHC system is essential for ensuring that people can access the health services they need, regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic status.

In the context of global health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, a PHC-oriented health system is critical for building global solidarity and responding effectively to the crisis. PHC can provide essential health services, including preventive care, diagnosis, treatment, and referral to higher levels of care when needed. It also plays a crucial role in surveillance, outbreak detection, and response, which are key components of the global health security agenda.

To achieve UHC and reorient health systems towards PHC, it is necessary to focus on four key areas:

Health Financing: Countries need to increase public financing for health and ensure that it is spent on essential health services, with a particular emphasis on primary health care. This requires innovative financing mechanisms and stronger partnerships between governments, civil society, and the private sector.

Health Workforce: Countries need to invest in the education, training, and retention of health workers, with a particular focus on strengthening the PHC workforce. This requires improving working conditions, providing adequate remuneration, and ensuring that health workers are deployed where they are most needed.

Service Delivery: Countries need to strengthen PHC services by ensuring that they are accessible, affordable, and of high quality. This requires the implementation of a comprehensive and integrated approach to service delivery, including preventive and curative care, as well as health promotion and disease prevention.

Health Information Systems: Countries need to strengthen health information systems to enable better monitoring, evaluation, and decision-making. This requires the collection, analysis, and dissemination of reliable and timely health data, with a particular emphasis on disease surveillance and outbreak response.

By reorienting health systems towards PHC and achieving UHC, countries can build global solidarity and respond effectively to health emergencies, while also promoting health equity and social justice.

Theme Guide for Committee C

Committee C DIAS

Chair

Victoria Cassar

Hello, my name is Victoria Cassar, and I am an undergraduate Global Health student specializing in Health Promotion & Disease Prevent at York University. My primary areas of interest include health law & policy, global governance, and gender health equity. I am passionate about improving health equity and strengthening access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services for women and young girls across the world. This semester, I am completing my practicum placement as a Policy & Parliamentary Intern at Results Canada, a non-partisan and non-profit organization aiming to eliminate global poverty. In this role, I support public and parliamentary advocacy efforts to help build the political will to eliminate tuberculosis in Canada and abroad.

Additionally, I am passionate about creating a welcoming and inclusive community for Global Health students, and providing students with opportunities for personal and professional growth. Currently, I serve as the Co-President of the Global Health Student’s Association - the representative organization for the Global Health student body. I am thrilled to be an active member of the first-ever World Health Assembly Simulation as the Chair of Committee C - Universal Health Coverage!

Vice Chair

Sher Khan

Hello, my name is Sher Khan, and I am an undergraduate Global Health student specializing in Policy, Management, and System. I am also pursuing a Project Management certificate from the University of Toronto. My primary areas of interest and expertise include research, mentorship, and project management. I am passionate about improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations and reducing health disparities. Currently, I am a Research Assistant Intern at the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, under the supervision of Dr. Godfred. My current research involves exploring the intersection of housing insecurity and intimate violence in Ghana. In addition, I serve as a Program Facilitator for the Global Health Mentorship Organization, where I design and implement the Global Health Mentorship program. In my community, I am an active mentor with the North York Community House. Before pursuing my current positions, I worked as a Clinical Documentation Specialist at Veristat and as a Care Coordinator at Spectrum Healthcare. Throughout these experiences, I developed a deep understanding of the healthcare system and gained invaluable insight into how to make a meaningful impact on individuals lives.

Secretariat

Delal Hagos

Hey! I am Delal Hagos , a fourth-year Global Health student specializing in Global eHealth. I am interested in the socioeconomic determinants of health, health policy, and social justice. My passions include activism and community development. When working on initiatives, I am also eager to incorporate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. I've worked with a number of non-profits and collectives that push for various social justice concerns and civic involvement. In addition, I am working as a research assistant to better understand the role of mhealth in identifying and lowering dementia risk factors. I am thrilled to be a member of the Universal Health Coverage committee for World Health Assembly Simulation in Canada.

Universal Health Coverage: Reorienting health systems to primary health care

Committee C DIAS

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