Opinion: Universal health coverage and the power of partnerships

Every year, 100 million people are pushed below the poverty line due to out-of-pocket expenditure on health services. This is an untenable situation, both in terms of human suffering and for the long-term stability of economies around the world. Access to adequate health care should be universal, no matter where you live or what your income.

In recent years, universal health coverage has become a pressing priority in the global community. The World Health Organization recently emphasized that “all roads should lead to universal health coverage.” Similarly, the United Nations has set a target of achieving UHC by 2030, placing the aim at the heart of their Sustainable Development Goals for health. While studies generally suggest that UHC is financially feasible, it will be impossible to deliver without multisector collaboration and political commitment.

So, how do we achieve a more inclusive global health system? We must reassess our ideas of health care delivery and look at the issue holistically. We must recognize that disease and health are not discrete episodes in our lives, but part of a bigger picture. We need agile health services to respond to this, with more networks and better quality of care.

The role of technology

Digital health, with the potential to leapfrog low- and middle-income countries toward greater social equity, economic growth and environmental sustainability, can play a key role in transforming the way we deliver health care. In 2017, I co-chaired the Broadband Commission Working Group on Digital Health with information technology and consumer electronics company Nokia. We found that leadership from local government in partnership with other organizations was crucial in driving digital innovation forward, promoting well-being for all ages, ensuring healthy lives and fostering UHC.

Translating the learning into policy

It is vital to pioneer models that are sustainable at scale, giving the greatest chance of improving health outcomes for those most neglected by health systems. For example, the ambition of all of our initiatives at the Novartis Foundation is for learnings to eventually translate into policy that will help address global health challenges. This year, Ghana Health Services began integrating the telemedicine model into its national services. The health authorities have already started this rollout nationwide and telemedicine services currently cover 25 districts across five regions.

More recently, we have begun working on a new urban health initiative that seeks to operate at scale from the outset by taking a multidisciplinary, multisector approach. Better Hearts Better Cities aims to tackle hypertension by building a network of partners reaching beyond the health sector. These can include health care providers, as well as digital and telecommunications organizations, food suppliers, employers, insurance funds, social enterprises and civil society organizations.

This initiative will initially focus on tackling hypertension in three cities across three continents, but we ultimately want to create a roadmap for chronic disease prevention and management in low- and middle-income countries that, when translated to global policy, can improve the health of people around the world.

Partnerships as a player

Digital technology is a key enabler for the initiative. From empowering patients to manage their own health conditions to screening, diagnosing and monitoring hypertension, it is increasing access to vital services. Through partnerships with companies such as Intel Corporation, such initiatives can work to ensure barriers to the uptake of new digital tools are addressed from the outset. Again, active participation and buy-in from local government is vital in order to provide leadership and ensure long-term impact.

The success of initiatives such as the telemedicine program is evidence that the development of innovative, scalable and sustainable solutions can support and advance UHC. All stakeholders must work together to continue to implement programs that offer solutions to some of the world’s most pressing health issues: eliminating leprosy, tackling chronic and infectious diseases, and ensuring the health of our urban populations. However, we have learned that it is only when governments share in this endeavor and integrate solutions — digital or otherwise — into national services and policy that we can make UHC a reality.

For more information on the work the Novartis Foundation is doing to pave the way for UHC, click here.

How do we ensure that people worldwide get the care they need without the risk of being pushed further into poverty? Devex explores the path to universal health coverage. Join us as we ask what it will take to achieve UHC for all by visiting our Healthy Horizons site and tagging #HealthyHorizons, #Health4All and @Devex.