South Africa's Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi warned that universal health coverage (UHC) must be expedited for the world to achieve its 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He made this statement during his speech at the G20 Health Working Group. He highlighted alarming global setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, rising healthcare costs, and shrinking health budgets. These issues threaten to reverse decades of progress.
Motsoaledi cited data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) showing that approximately 100 million people have been financially disadvantaged due to health-related expenses during the pandemic. He stated that this situation highlights the vulnerability of existing health systems and the urgent need for action.
Primary healthcare: The foundation for UHC
Central to Motsoaledi’s call to action was a renewed focus on primary healthcare, which is the cornerstone of universal health coverage. He emphasised that investing in primary care is essential for improving health outcomes. Additionally, it is crucial for addressing the social determinants of health that contribute to inequality.
However, countries in the Global South encounter unique challenges. Escalating debt burdens divert resources from health sectors, leading to underfunded and overstretched systems. Motsoaledi argued that health spending should be recognised not as a cost, but as a strategic investment in national development.
Four key strategies for strengthening UHC
To realise universal health coverage globally, Motsoaledi outlined four key strategies:
- Increase domestic health financing by raising national budget allocations.
- Push for debt relief and restructuring in heavily indebted nations to free up resources for healthcare.
- Enhance international cooperation and tap into innovative financing to close funding gaps.
- Boost transparency and efficiency in the way health budgets are allocated and spent.
He referenced South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI) initiative as a model for transformative healthcare financing. This initiative is designed to ensure equitable access and financial protection for all citizens.
Motsoaledi also highlighted the growing challenge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. This issue is especially prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. He urged global leaders to commit to:
- Expanding emergency health services funding;
- Accelerating efforts to eliminate cervical cancer.
While he did not address the recent US foreign aid cuts to South African health programmes, Motsoaledi urged G20 nations to champion healthcare financing. He called on them to prioritise public health in national and international policy agendas.