1. Home
  2. Our Work
  3. Advocacy
  4. Campaigns
  5. Universal Health Coverage 2030

Universal Health Coverage 2030

In 2015, all 193 Member States of the United Nations agreed on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In doing so they set out an ambitious agenda for a safer, fairer and healthier world for all by 2030. The inclusion of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the SDGs as target 8 under SDG 3 provides an opportunity to promote a comprehensive and coherent approach to health, focusing on health systems strengthening (HSS) which is based on the principle that all individuals and communities should have access to quality essential health services without suffering financial hardship. UHC cuts across all health targets and contributes to health security and equity.

Statement by WFSA President Prof Adrian Gelb on UHC to the 73rd World Health Assembly

WFSA Global Position on UHC

In 2017, WFSA adopted a Global Position Statement on Anaesthesiology and Universal Health Coverage which was approved by the General Assembly. This statement provides guidance around the current anaesthesia and surgical crisis within the global health policy agenda that seeks to achieve UHC. The statement highlights the need for WFSA and anaesthesiologist leadership to address the human resource crisis in anaesthesia and acknowledge the important role of non-physician providers in some contexts.

World Health Assembly Statement

WFSA also submitted a statement on UHC to the 73rd World Health Assembly under agenda item 11.2 that was delivered by Professor Adrian Gelb, President of WFSA. The statement highlighted the need to: increase anaesthesia workforce capacity; adopt the WHO-WFSA International Standards for a Safe Practice of Anaesthesia and support the development of National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plans (NSOAPs) ensuring that anaesthesiologists are active participants in the development of these plans.

Top