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Review
. 2023 Oct 29:18:100313.
doi: 10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100313. eCollection 2023 Nov.

Advancing Universal Health Coverage in the WHO South-East Asia Region with a focus on Human Resources for Health

Ibadat Dhillon  1 , Manoj Jhalani  1 , Thaksaphon Thamarangsi  1 , Amani Siyam  1 , Poonam Khetrapal Singh  1
Affiliations
Review

Advancing Universal Health Coverage in the WHO South-East Asia Region with a focus on Human Resources for Health

Ibadat Dhillon et al. Lancet Reg Health Southeast Asia. .

Abstract

The identification in 2014 of Universal Health Coverage, including focus on human resources for health, as a flagship priority for the WHO South-East Asia Region marked critical departure from the prior period of the Millennium Development Goals. The last decade witnessed strong political commitment and action to advance UHC across the Region. At regional level, UHC service coverage index improved from 47 in 2010 to 62 in 2021. Improved availability of human resources for health has been an important contributor, with the regional average of doctors, nurses and midwives increasing by approximately a third between 2014 and 2020. Progress on financial protection has been mixed: proportion of population impoverished declined significantly but catastrophic expenditure did not reduce. Despite important gains, progress is insufficient to achieve UHC targets by 2030. Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent economic challenges have created further urgency to accelerate progress towards UHC, with attention to strengthening primary health care.

Keywords: HRH; Health systems; Human Resources for Health; PHC; Primary Health Care; UHC; Universal Health Coverage.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare they have no conflict of interest. All authors are WHO SEARO employees. The views expressed are of the authors and not an officila position of the WHO or any institutions to which they are affiliated. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Progress in coverage of essential health services in countries of SEA Region, 2015–2021. Source of Data: WHO Global Health Observatory, accessed 31st July 2023.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Trend in UHC SCI sub-indices in the SE Asia Region, 2000–2021.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Comparison of health services coverage and catastrophic health expenditure in Member States of the SE Asia Region.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Progress in the availability of doctors, nurses and midwives in countries of the SEA Region Countries, 2014–2020.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Density of select community-based health workforce in Member States of SEA Region.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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