12 December is Universal Health Coverage Day, convened under the theme Build the World We Want: A Healthy Future for All, this year’s celebration will be the last before the 2023 High-Level Meeting on UHC in September.

UHC Day will feature the return of the virtual rally, with three ways you can engage from anywhere around the world. It includes a webinar, where speakers from across the #HealthForAll movement will engage in conversation around achieving UHC by 2030.

In September 2019, at the first UN High-Level Meeting on UHC, all UN member endorsed the ambitious and comprehensive Political Declaration on UHC. Targets set by the 2019 political declaration included:

• Progressively covering 1 billion additional people with health coverage, with a view of covering all people by 2030;
• Reversing the trend of rising catastrophic out-of-pocket health expenditure and eliminating impoverishment due to health-related expenses by 2030.

These targets on universal health coverage, which is defined as everyone, everywhere, having access to quality health services without financial hardship, were already off-track before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Weak health systems allowed COVID-19 to spread rapidly and globally, and left millions of people unable to access essential health services during the pandemic.

According to the latest global monitoring report on UHC, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated and weakened health systems and financial protection even further.

The HLM in September 2023 will bring together the President of the UNGA, the Secretary General of the UN, the Director-General of the WHO, and the President of the World Bank Group, as well as all member states and eminent champions of UHC.

How can you get involved this UHC Day?

ASK: Make your voices heard. On social media ask governments, world leaders, and those in power to act on their commitments to achieve universal health coverage. Share content from the Health For All Advocacy Toolkit and explore the UHC Advocacy Letter template for inspiration and practical steps to help guide your advocacy asks.

AMPLIFY: Tell the world why #HeathForAll matters and why it’s critical that leaders act on their commitments to build the world we want. Record a video or write a message answering the question, “How can we build a healthier future for all?” Post your response on social media on 12 December with the hashtag #UHCDay, and you might be featured alongside world leaders and public health officials answering the same question! Use the UHC Day 2022 digital toolkit for inspiration, graphics, filters, profile frames, and more.

ACT: Let’s rally for what’s right – take action and hit the streets, or screens, on 12 December in any way you can. Encourage your friends, family, and networks to participate in the UHC Day virtual rally webinar at 9 a.m. ET/3 p.m. CET on 12 December.

Looking for more ideas to start your UHC Day or UHC-related campaign? Download A Frontline Campaigner’s Guide to Planning and Mobilizing Resources for Universal Health Coverage Day, in English, French or Spanish.

Get social:

Hashtags: #HealthForAll #UHCDay

Handles: @UHC_Day @UHC2030 @CSOs4UHC @UN @WHO @WBG_Health.