International Universal Health Coverage Day is celebrated yearly on December 12th, marking the day in which the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a resolution urging countries to accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC), back in 2012.  

Fast forward a decade, plus a global pandemic, and the need to have resilient and stronger health systems, as well as universal health coverage, seems more urgent than ever.   

This year’s focus is Health: It's on the government, clearly defining the responsible party, calls on governments “to invest in health for all and protect people, particularly the most vulnerable among us”.  

I work every day with authors, editors, reviewers and other publishing professionals whose focus is solely on publishing research that supports this mission, stressing the urgency of setting up equitable health services worldwide. In this summary blog, I’m sharing their insights and work to encourage you to dive deeper and, ultimately, to join us in this mission.  

International Journal for Equity in Health - How can health systems under stress achieve universal health coverage and health equity?

The paper discusses the numerous interconnected stresses facing global health systems, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate crisis, rising conflicts, economic pressures, demographic shifts, urbanization, and health worker shortages. 

The author highlights how these challenges exacerbate health inequities and strain service delivery, and emphasizes the need for resilient health systems that can adapt and reconfigure during crises, leveraging digitalization, social innovation, and community participation.  

Ultimately, as a common theme amongst the publications in this journal, this paper underscores the importance of addressing health inequities to build trust and social cohesion, which are essential for effective health system functioning and crisis management.  

Globalization and Health – The paradox of growing technical capacities with low global governance: a review of Voluntary National Reviews’ SDG health-related indicators 

Using Voluntary National Reviews as a key instrument, the authors of this study examine the accountability of States for health-related Sustainable Development Goal indicators from 2016 to 2020. The analysis focuses on how well these indicators align with the global indicator framework, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses in global health governance under the 2030 Agenda.

While there was an increase in the use and consistency of health-related indicators over the years, particularly in infectious diseases and child and maternal health, there was a notable lack of representation in areas like universal health coverage and health systems. These areas remain underreported despite their internationally standardized metrics, a phenomenon attributed to political choices and a "vertical" approach that prioritizes specific health issues over systemic reforms. This neglect persists across countries from all income categories, highlighting a global shortfall in comprehensive health governance.

Even though technical capabilities are improving, global health governance isn't keeping up. In particular, High-Income countries aren't as accountable as Lower-Middle-Income and Low-Income countries. Additionally, the study underscores the frequent use of proxy indicators in place of official ones, undermining the SDG framework's efforts for innovative statistics and detailed monitoring. This selective reporting reflects political preferences and technical challenges, limiting the VNRs' potential as global accountability tools. However, it offers valuable insights into States' thematic priorities, exposing vulnerabilities in global health governance and the risks of harmful goal prioritization within the Agenda.

Conflict and Health –  Global health diplomacy in humanitarian action 

This paper explores the role of Global Health Diplomacy (GHD) in humanitarian action within contexts of Fragility, Conflict, and Violence (FCV). It highlights the severe health crises created by over 110 active conflicts currently ongoing worldwide, exacerbated by climate shocks, poverty, and public health emergencies. These crises have profound and lasting health impacts on vulnerable populations, emphasizing the need for effective health diplomacy to navigate these challenges. 

The authors advocate for a paradigm shift in humanitarian approaches, recognizing GHD's potential to shape international cooperation and inclusive global health policies. They demonstrate how health diplomacy can contribute to improving health outcomes in fragile settings, using case studies like the cholera in Yemen and Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The paper stresses the importance of health equity and the inclusion of conflict-affected populations in global health policies to achieve Universal Health Coverage. 

In essence, the authors highlight the necessity of transdisciplinary solutions and effective international cooperation to address global health challenges and achieve the aspiration to "leave no one behind". 

Archives of Public Health - Artificial intelligence in healthcare: a scoping review of perceived threats to patient rights and safety 

The global health system is increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance patient care. However, a recent review has highlighted several perceived threats posed by AI tools to patient rights and safety. 

In this review, the authors identified several key threats at different levels. These include the potential for unpredictable errors by AI tools, inadequate policy and regulatory frameworks, and medical paternalism, which could undermine patient autonomy. Additionally, the review highlighted concerns about increased healthcare costs and disparities in insurance coverage, breaches of data security and patient privacy, and the potential for bias and discriminatory services. 

To address these threats, the authors recommend that national governments lead the rollout of AI tools in healthcare. They also suggest that key stakeholders in the healthcare industry contribute to developing comprehensive policies to ensure the safe and ethical use of AI. 

The authors concluded that while AI holds significant promise for improving healthcare, addressing these threats is crucial for achieving SDGs related to health, safety, and equity. By developing robust policies and ensuring responsible use, the global health system can harness the benefits of AI while safeguarding patient rights and safety.