People in developing countries have less access to care and services that are prominent in more developed countries. Many citizens across the world lack essential healthcare assistance which induces poverty and decreases overall well-being. With high costs for basic health services, over 800 million people globally, or 10 percent of the world’s population, devote at least 10 percent of their household finances to healthcare costs for themselves, a sick child, or another family member. This extreme burden on households causes hundreds of millions to lack essential health services, prompting financial hardship for those who invest.
Oftentimes, healthcare refers to a wide array of services that target the improvement of people’s physical and mental well-being. Making healthcare universal means that everyone in a country has access to quality services whenever they need them, nullifying its risk of financial hardship. Through encompassing many helpful resources at affordable costs, universal health is often a goal that many countries hope to achieve. Individuals in powerful government positions view the implementation of such as a step to economic stability and as a personal right. Universal health coverage (UHC) has significantly increased since the beginning of the century, as seen by the increase from 45 to 68 between 2000 and 2021 in the UHC service coverage index. This indicates that countries of the world are making a sizable difference to make healthcare more common and cost-efficient, helping many people save their money.
The stigma against UHC hinders individuals from seeking necessary medical treatment, leading to worsened health outcomes. Thus, there must be notions to address the people forced into poverty because of the cost of healthcare.
Organizations like the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) attempt to bridge this gap of disparities by ensuring vaccination access for all people. Across the United States, certain populations are less likely to receive proper vaccinations; specifically, families that live in rural areas, have lower incomes and are racial or ethnic minorities typically have less access to receive vaccine care. Improving vaccine equity is essential to decreasing the disparities in health outcomes and preventing the spread of diseases. By expanding access to vaccinations, it is pivotal for the CDC and other organizations to keep exploring the possibility of reducing vaccine inequities because of the effect it will have on citizens. Addressing these gaps increases the overall public well-being because it creates a more equitable healthcare system for all. Not only is vaccine accessibility a key factor in making healthcare a more universal system but also increased health insurance coverage and public health campaigns will make the issue of inequality within healthcare more widespread and personal. A study done by the CDC shows that approximately 10.9% of people between 18 years old and 65 years old were uninsured at the time of the data collection in 2023. To further address this incongruity, it is crucial to ensure many essential health services, such as maternal care, mental health support, and treatment for chronic conditions, are universally accessible. This would require an approach that aims to expand the impact of health insurance, improve healthcare infrastructure, and increase the number of healthcare professionals.
Written by Michael Shohat
