The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the third of which is “good health and well-being”, namely: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being at all ages. (Click here for details)

Under this major goal, there are 13 targets, the eighth of which is “Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.”

● Current Situation

Universal health coverage means that all people have access to the health services they need, without financial hardship. It includes the full range of essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.

About the World

Universal Health Coverage Needs to Be Improved 

Health is the necessary condition for sustainable development. However, at least half of the world’s population still does not have full coverage of essential health services. About 100 million people are still being pushed into extreme poverty (defined as living on US$1.90 or less a day) because they have to pay for health care. Over 930 million people (around 12% of the world’s population) spend at least 10% of their household budgets to pay for health care. About 400 million people in the world - one in every 17 people - still lack basic health services.

Text and photo source: WHO website   

About China

Healthy China Strategy Implemented

In recent years, China's health service has made great progress leading to continuous improvement of the national health level. With the acceleration of industrialization, urbanization and population aging, there will be more challenges ahead. Many people with unhealthy lifestyle such as smoking and excessive drinking do not have scientific health knowledge, exercise or diet. The situation is still severe in controlling and preventing communicable diseases such as Hepatitis, tuberculosis and AIDS. The problems of mental and occupational health as well as endemic diseases should not be ignored.

 Photo source:xinhuanet.com

In October 2017, the report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China put forward the "Healthy China" strategy from the perspective of realizing national rejuvenation and improving people's well-being. This is an action guide for building Healthy China and a practical order for guarding people's health.

Text source: cn-healthcare.com

●  Cases

About the World

Japan Actively Administrates People’s Health

Japan is one of the few countries to implement universal medical insurance, which covers 99% of its population. In 2019, Japan continued to be on the top of the world's life expectancy ranking, with an average life expectancy of 83.7 years. These achievements are closely related to the national health insurance policy implemented by the Japanese government since the end of the Second World War.

Photo source:internet

After suffering the post-war chaos and poverty, Japan began to carry out overall insurance system to achieve universal health coverage in 1961. The Japanese government’s administration of national health can be traced back to 1978 when the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare first launched the national health campaign, focusing on promoting physical examination and increasing the number of nurses and nutritionists. Ten years later, as an important part of the national health strategy, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare made specific policies to ensure physical examination of the elderly, standardize regional care centers, and train exercise mentors. Almost every city in Japan has a health administration center. In addition to the universal coverage of care homes and medical facilities, as well as the high-quality air, drinking water and food, Japan’s high-ranked life expectancy is also attributed to the government’s active administration of people's health.

Text source: istis.sh.cn

About China

Health Care Reform Provides References for World

China has made great achievements since its new health care reform began in 2009. For example, the self-paid medical expenditure has been reduced to less than 30%. The universal medical system has been basically completed with fundamental medicine and service system consolidated for primary medical care. The investment in grass-roots medical infrastructure and general practitioner training has been increased. China is experienced in how to promote universal health coverage, which provides good references for the world.

Photo source:sohu.com.cn

"Internet + Health" has become an innovative driving force to promote economic and social development, and it is a necessary option for Shenzhen to further develop its health undertaking. Making good use of new technologies, such as big data, cloud computing, internet of things and articulated naturality web, Shenzhen Municipal Government has invested about 4 billion yuan to develop its universal health information project, i.e. the “12361” Project, which plays a key role in promoting the construction of Healthy China and realizing the strategic goal of universal health coverage.

Text source: xinhuanet.com

●  Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Initiated by the United Nations

On January 1, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.