Universal Health Coverage – The Critical Importance of Global Solidarity and Good Governance; Comment on “Ethical Perspective: Five Unacceptable Trade-offs on the Path to Universal Health Coverage”

Document Type : Commentary

Author

Global Health Ethics Unit, Health Systems and Innovation Cluster, World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland

Abstract

This article provides a commentary to Ole Norheim’ s editorial entitled “Ethical perspective: Five unacceptable trade-offs on the path to universal health coverage.” It reinforces its message that an inclusive, participatory process is essential for ethical decision-making and underlines the crucial importance of good governance in setting fair priorities in healthcare. Solidarity on both national and international levels is needed to make progress towards the goal of universal health coverage (UHC).

Keywords

Main Subjects


  1. Norheim OF. Ethical perspective: five unacceptable trade-offs on the path to universal health coverage. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2015;4(11):711-714. doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2015.184
  2. World Health Organization (WHO). Constitution of the World Health Organization. Basic Documents, Forty-fifth edition, Supplement. Geneva: WHO; 2006. http://www.who.int/governance/eb/who_constitution_en.pdf  
  3. World Health Organization (WHO). Declaration of Alma-Ata. International Conference on Primary Health Care, Alma-Ata, USSR, 6-12 September 1978. Geneva: WHO; 1978. http://www.who.int/publications/almaata_declaration_en.pdf 
  4. World Health Organization (WHO). The World Health Report 2008 - primary Health Care (Now More Than Ever). Geneva: WHO; 2008. http://www.who.int/whr/2008/en/ 
  5. World Health Organization (WHO). Making Fair Choices on the Path to Universal Health Coverage. Final Report of the WHO Consultative Group on Equity and Universal Health Coverage. Geneva: WHO; 2014
  6. European Union. Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, OJ C 326, 26.10.2012, p. 391-407.
  7. National Ethics Advisory Committee. Getting Through Together: Ethical Values for a Pandemic. Wellington: Ministry of Health; 2007.
  8. Prainsack B, Buyx A. Solidarity: reflections on an emerging concept in bioethics. London: Nuffield Council on Bioethics; 2011. http://nuffieldbioethics.org/project/solidarity/#sthash.Lenv7FIU.dpuf. Accessed February 10, 2016.
  9. ter Meulen R, Arts W, Muffels R, eds. Solidarity in Health and Social Care in Europe. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers; 2001.
  10. Kieny MP, Evans DB, Gerard Schmets G,  Kadandale S. Health-system resilience: reflections on the Ebola crisis in western Africa. Bull World Health Organ. 2014;92:850. doi:10.2471/BLT.14.149278
  11. World Health Organization (WHO). Addressing ethical issues in pandemic influenza planning: Discussion papers. Geneva: WHO; 2008.
  12. World Health Organization (WHO). WHO global strategy on integrated people-centred health services 2016-2026. Placing people and communities at the centre of health services. Geneva: WHO; 2015.
  13. Barbazza E, Tello J. A review of health governance: definitions, dimensions and tools to govern. Health Policy. 2014;116:1-11. doi:10.1016/j.healthpol.2014.01.007
  14. Dan Chisholm D, Evans DB. Improving health system efficiency as a means of moving towards universal coverage. Geneva: WHO; 2010
  15. World Health Organization (WHO). The world health report 2010. Health systems financing: the path to universal coverage. Geneva: WHO; 2010.
  16. Gupta S, Davoodi H, Tiongron E. Corruption and the provision of health care and education services. International Monetary Fund Working Paper 00/116, Appendix Table 9, p.27. Washington DC: International Monetary Fund; 2000. www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2000/wp00116.pdf. Accessed March 15, 2016.
  17. World Health Organization. Good Governance for Medicines: Model Framework. Geneva: WHO; 2014. http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/governance/ggm_modelframe_updated/en/ Accessed March 15, 2016. 
  18. World Health Assembly. WHA64.9. Sustainable health financing structures and universal coverage. Geneva: WHO; 2011.
  19. Siddiqi S, Masud TI, Nishtar S, et al. Framework for assessing governance in the health system in developing countries: gateway to good governance. Health Policy. 2008;90:13-25. doi:10.1016/j.healthpol.2008.08.005
  20. World Health Organization (WHO). The World Medicines Situation 2011: Medicine Expenditures. http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/policy/world_medicines_situation. Published 2011.
  21. World Health Organization (WHO). Adelaide Statement on Health in All Policies - moving towards a shared governance for health and well-being. http://www.who.int/social_determinants/hiap_statement_who_sa_final.pdf . Published 2010.