22.12.2017

New report from World Bank and World Health Organization

Half the world’s population still lacks access to essential health services

World Health Organization and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 2017 The new WHO and World Bank report shows how far away the global community is from the stated goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC): globally, half of the world's population lacks access to crucial health care services, and millions more are driven into poverty each year by the cost of treatment in a medical facility. This is unacceptable. Although the number of key health faclities worldwide has increased by 20% between 2000-2015, this progress is not enough to reach UHC by 2030. More than a billion people have uncontrolled high blood pressure, more than 200 million women have insufficient access to family planning or contraception, and 20 million children lack essential vaccines. Insufficient data also runs the risk that neglected groups of people (Leaving no one behind) will not be reached and their health situation will continue to worsen. (Photo: Cholera treatment center / Catherine Mumbi / CAFOD / Flickr. IRIN Photos)