On 12 December 2012, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously endorsed a resolution urging countries to accelerate progress toward universal health coverage (UHC) – the idea that everyone, everywhere should have access to quality, affordable health care – as an essential priority for international development.
In 2014, the Universal Health Coverage Coalition started to celebrate 12 December as UHC Day, to commemorate the date on which the UN General Assembly officially recognised the importance of UHC. Since then, the day has become the annual rallying point for the growing global movement for Health for All.
On 12 December 2017, UNGA proclaimed 12 December as International Universal Health Coverage Day (UHC Day) by resolution, making it an official UN-designated day.
UHC Day aims to raise awareness of the need for strong and resilient health systems and universal health coverage. Each year on 12.12, UHC advocates raise their voices to share the stories of the millions of people still waiting for health, to call on leaders to make bigger and smarter investments in health, and to remind the world that Health for All is imperative to create the world we want.
UHC Day 2020
The theme of UHC Day 2020 is ‘Health for all: protect everyone. To end this crisis and build a safer and healthier future, we must invest in health systems that protect us all — now’
UHC Day Campaign on 12 December 2020 will mark one year since the first cases of COVID-19 were reported. UHC Day Campaign 2020 must remind the world that health for all is not a long-term wish, but an urgent priority to end this crisis and emerge stronger. Considering this global challenge that we are currently facing, the theme and primary narrative of campaigns this year will be: “HEALTH FOR ALL: PROTECT EVERYONE. To end this crisis and build a safer and healthier future, we must invest in health systems that protect us all — now.” The choice is not between health security or UHC: strong, equitable systems grounded in primary health care and human rights are needed for both. It is critical not to wait until the crisis is past to accelerate political and financial commitments to achieve UHC. Instead, leaders must prioritize investments in strong, equitable health systems that protect everyone, respond to emergencies and leave no one behind in the future.
How to get involved
Visit the UHC Day campaign site and find out how you can take action to support UHC, both on December 12th and throughout the year. You can also learn about events organised by other partners around the world.
Role of UHC2030
UHC2030 has supported UHC Coalition partners to organise UHC Day events since our establishment in 2016. But our role is growing.
Download: UHC Day 2020, Report for UHC2030
Another 2017 UNGA resolution also recognised UHC2030 as the most relevant group for providing support to Member States for developing and strengthening sustainable UHC initiatives at the national level. Building on this experience and mandate, UHC2030 is uniquely positioned to coordinate partners to organise around UHC Day across the world and is now spearheading these efforts.
Leading transparently and collaboratively, UHC2030 convenes and houses a multi-stakeholder Coordination Group on International UHC Day (12.12.CG) that includes Member States, organisations of the United Nations system, civil society, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and academia.
12.12.CG is responsible for developing the identity and campaign materials for UHC Day, building on the existing efforts of the UHC Coalition and other relevant initiatives for UHC.