Universal Health Coverage, Non-communicable Disease, and Equity: Challenges to Implementation Comment on “Universal Health Coverage for Non-communicable Diseases and Health Equity: Lessons From Australian Primary Healthcare”

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to facilitate the development of universal health coverage (UHC) wherever possible. One of its major concerns is the epidemic of non-communicable disease (NCD). For health systems to address this epidemic, countries need primary health care systems which are affordable, accessible, integrated and comprehensive. This commentary addresses that issue with reference to the paper by Fisher et al with respect to the structures, actors, and ideas identified in the paper. It focuses mainly on funding models to address structural issues and control actors, and on the importance of constant lobbying to address the ideas needed to achieve UHC.