WHO reminds that half of the world’s population does not have health coverage

More than half the world’s population, about 4.5 million people, still do not have access to basic health services, the World Health Organization (WHO) recalled on the eve of celebrations on Sunday of the 76th anniversary of its creation.

World Health Day, which celebrates the birth of WHO on April 7, 1948, is this year’s theme “My Health, My Right,” as the World Health Agency aims to remind people that many promises of health for all are not being kept. and even where they exist, there is danger of retreat.

“Around the world, the right to health is under threat due to a lack of political action, accountability or funding,” the WHO said in a statement released to mark the international day.

The UN health agency also recalls that two billion people suffer from financial problems paying for health care, a situation that has worsened over the past two decades.

To address these challenges, WHO has called for global investment of between $200 and $328 billion per year to expand primary health care in developing countries, which would be equivalent to approximately 3.3% of global GDP.

The organization emphasizes that it is not only financial barriers that hinder the universalization of health insurance, but also the marginalization of groups such as ethnic minorities, migrants and refugees, people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ people and others.

“WHO calls on all governments to ensure that every law, every policy, promotes the right to health: from taxing tobacco, sugar or alcohol, to eliminating trans fats, ending fuel subsidies or guaranteeing decent work for people. medical workers,” he said.

The UN agency also recalled that during several ongoing conflicts, there have been numerous attacks on health facilities, which “is one of the most egregious examples of violations of the right to health.”