The recent adoption of Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations endorsed an earlier agreement on a resolution passed on Dec. 12, 2012, which emphasizes all member states ensure access to health care facilities for all citizens.
This resolution assumes significance for two main reasons: First, there are close to 150 million people globally who face financial hardship every year because of medical expenses. Secondly, about a quarter of these families in low- and middle-income nations have to borrow money or sell property to support their health care requirements.
These reasons warrant serious attention from global health leaders to come up with a viable option to develop mechanisms that will exempt the poor from payments and provide them both health and financial protection.