Human rights in action: Advancing the right to health through universal health coverage

The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded on the conviction that health is a human right, not a privilege. Today, as we mark International Human Rights Day and prepare to celebrate Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day on 12 December, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting Member States to advance the right of all people to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health (the right to health), as set out in international human rights law[i] and rooted in the WHO Constitution and its Chapters and Articles.[ii] 

The right to health is an everyday essential that is at the heart of WHO’s mission and global efforts to achieve UHC. Our partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) further strengthens our resolve to uphold and advance this right for all. 

UHC and the right to health share a deeply synergistic relationship.[iii] UHC is a practical expression of concern for health equity and the right to health, while the right to health defines obligations for Member States that are directly relevant to achieving UHC. While not the same concept, by ensuring that all people can access the full range of safe, quality health services and medicines they need, when and where the need them, without financial hardship, UHC advances the right to health - strengthening equity, expanding coverage and leaving no one behind. Every step towards UHC is a step towards realizing human rights.

Yet for billions of people, the right to health remains out of reach. Too many people around the world are denied essential services, pushed into poverty, or excluded because of their gender, age, disability, socioeconomic status, migration status, or where they live. In many countries, medicines alone account for more than half of out-of-pocket health spending.[iv]

The urgency of addressing this challenge has never been greater. Conflict, climate shocks, rising inequality and setbacks to gender equality threaten the health and well-being of all, undermining economic growth, development, and stable and peaceful societies worldwide. Amid these disruptions, we have a unique opportunity to build resilient health systems that are equitable, just and inclusive. By prioritizing the right to health and accelerating actions towards the achievement of UHC, we can move progress towards the 2030 Agenda as a whole and lay the foundation for a fairer and safer world.

There are compelling reasons for grounding UHC in legally binding human rights norms and implementing it in a manner consistent with equality, non-discrimination, participation, transparency and accountability. Human rights provides a framework to ensure that laws, policies, practices and budgets at national, sectoral and local levels are inclusive, transparent and responsive to the needs of all people. Evidence shows that proactively upholding the right to health and social protection strengthens health equity, fosters social cohesion, and builds resilience to crises.[v] In turn, UHC helps translate rights into tangible actions on the ground, offering governments a practical pathway to strengthen health systems and deliver on their human rights commitments. 

On this day, we therefore call on governments, global institutions, civil society and communities to work together to protect and advance the right to health by taking concrete actions toward UHC, including:

• Building inclusive health systems that protect everyone, including the most marginalized.
• Investing in equitable and resilient health systems that remove financial, social and other barriers, ensuring no one faces hardship in accessing care.
• Strengthening primary health care and protecting and empowering health workers, who are essential to delivering rights-based care.
• Ensuring social participation and accountability, so communities can shape the systems meant to serve them.

When the world feels unsafe, the right to health serves as a steady anchor. Human rights not only protect us, but also empower people to live fuller, healthier lives. 

As we build on the call of the global “My Health, My Right” campaign, let us all commit to a world where health systems uphold human dignity, provide UHC that leaves no one behind, and realize the right to health for all. 

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Background:

International Human Rights Day is observed annually on 10 December. It commemorates the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. This day serves to promote awareness of human rights issues and encourages action to uphold the rights that protect all individuals. The observance aims to foster a global culture of respect for human rights and dignity. 

 

References:

[i] International human rights law provides the foundation for the right to health. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR, 1948) recognizes everyone’s right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, further elaborated in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR, 1966). Specific treaties highlight health rights for children (CRC, 1989), women (CEDAW, 1979), and persons with disabilities (CRPD, 2006), while the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD, 1965) reinforces non-discrimination in access to services. The right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress (REBSP, 2009) further emphasizes equitable access to medical advancements.

[ii] Constitution of the World Health Organization and its Chapters and Articles, 1946: World Health Organization. 

[iii] UHC2030 and PMNCH. Health budget literacy, advocacy and accountability for universal health coverage Toolkit for capacity-building; May 2021. 

[iv] WHO and World Bank. Tracking universal health coverage: 2025 global monitoring report; December 2025.

[v] UNHCR, OHCHR. Overview on Universal Health Coverage and the Right to Health; June 2023.