Kerman University of Medical Sciences International Journal of Health Policy and Management 2322-5939 11 6 2022 06 01 Changing the Discourse in Ambitions Towards Universal Health Coverage: Lessons From Australian Primary Healthcare; Comment on “Universal Health Coverage for Non-communicable Diseases and Health Equity: Lessons From Australian Primary Healthcare” 851 854 4173 10.34172/ijhpm.2021.165 EN Sarah J. Simpson Independent Consultant, Lyon, France The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia Victoria Saint Department of Population Medicine and Health Services Research, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany Kayvan Bozorgmehr Department of Population Medicine and Health Services Research, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany Section for Health Equity Studies & Migration, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany Journal Article 2021 07 29 <span class="fontstyle0">While Australia’s health system has reached universal health coverage (UHC), recent scholarship points to its strengths and identifies ways it could be more effective and equitable, especially for tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Building on the Australian experience, we add to these perspectives and present pertinent lessons for the quest towards UHC, and for policy-makers globally with regard to NCDs. Potential lessons include: the need for (</span><em><span class="fontstyle2">i</span></em><span class="fontstyle0">) vigilance – UHC requires ongoing monitoring and evaluation of not only financial risk protection but non-financial barriers and impacts such as forgone care; (</span><em><span class="fontstyle2">ii</span></em><span class="fontstyle0">) investment and action now on structural determinants of NCDs and related inequalities to avoid potentially higher (fiscal, social and health) costs in the longer term; and (</span><em><span class="fontstyle2">iii</span></em><span class="fontstyle0">) the opportunity for policy-makers globally and nationally to revisit their ambitions for UHC to include population health policies/programs beyond essential health services that are required for healthier, more equitable and thriving societies.</span> https://www.ijhpm.com/article_4173_d1e2df2df80ef07f59e1bf204d890544.pdf