Today, April 7th, the World Health Organization (WHO) celebrates World Health Day, an annual global event dedicated to raising awareness about the significance of individuals’ health and well-being.

This year’s theme, ‘My health, my right’, highlights the global challenges related to access to health services, education and information.

According to WHO, 4.5 billion people are not fully covered by essential health services.¹ This implies that a significant portion of the global population lacks access to essential health services because of the absence of universal health coverage. These services encompass diagnostic tests, such as those assessed for quality by IQMH that are vital for detecting, diagnosing, and managing various illnesses and medical conditions. By advocating for universal health coverage, the WHO acknowledges the inherent right of every person to their health. Advancing universal health coverage will enable individuals’ access to these essential health services.

Learn more about World Health Day.

Reference

1. Universal health coverage (UHC). [Internet]. World Health Organization. 2023 [cited 2024 Mar 05]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/universal-health-coverage-(uhc)