Okuzeka
Healthcare Management vocabulary · Health Systems and Governance

Universal health coverage

Meaning in healthcare management, with examples

nounCommon term

In healthcare management, universal health coverage means: A situation in which everyone can get the health services they need, when and where they need them, without suffering financial hardship.

In Turkish: evrensel sağlık kapsamı, herkese sağlık güvencesi

How it is used

Shortened to UHC. It is a goal promoted by the World Health Organization and part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (target 3.8). Countries work towards it in different ways, through taxes, social insurance or a mix of both.

Example sentences

  1. Universal health coverage does not mean that every treatment is free for everyone.

  2. The conference focused on how primary care can support universal health coverage.

Common collocations

  • achieve universal health coverage
  • progress towards universal health coverage
  • UHC goals
  • health insuranceA system or contract in which regular payments to a public fund or a company cover all or part of a person's medical costs.
  • health policyThe decisions, plans and laws, usually made by governments, that shape how healthcare is organised, funded and delivered.
  • out-of-pocketPaid directly by patients from their own money, rather than by an insurer or a public system.
  • primary careThe first point of contact with the health system, such as family doctors and local health centres, which deals with common problems, prevention and referrals.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Health Systems and Governance

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.