By Joseph Varghese/Staff Reporter


Countries should focus on achieving full population coverage of an affordable package of healthcare services, highlights the report of the World Innovation Summit for Health’s (WISH) Forum on Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The WISH report aims to keep UHC at the top of the global health agenda and stimulate further informed debate and action across the globe.
Sir David Nicholson, professor at Imperial College London and chair of the WISH Universal Health Coverage Forum, highlighted key aspects of the report at a panel discussion yesterday during the WISH summit. HE the Minister of Public Health Abdullah bin Khalid al-Qahtani was also present on the occasion.
The report highlights that publicly governed, mandatory financing mechanisms such as general taxation and social health insurance contributions are the best way to pay for UHC. It also states that sustained political commitment from the highest level of government, including the head of state, is essential in implementing successful UHC reforms.
During the discussion, Nicholson said “Ensuring access to effective, quality health services, without the fear of financial hardship, is a basic human right. UHC can deliver substantial benefits for individuals, for countries and for politicians.”
The report points out three basic aspects of UHC - what population groups and services to cover, how to pay for UHC and how to implement UHC. It also  points out that designing and implementing an approach to achieving UHC is no simple task as there are complex trade-offs and practical challenges, as well as the need for political commitment.
According to the report, designing and implementing a UHC strategy cannot be seen as a one-size-fits-all process as each country will need to consider its population’s individual health needs, as well as the level of economic development and political environment. However, the review of available research evidence has identified some key strategic issues where a consensus is emerging on approaches to UHC that are more likely to be effective than others.
Leading healthcare experts from leading countries took part in the panel discussion on UHC, who included Prof Victor Dzau from the Institute of Medicine in the US, Dr Mohamed Khoshaim from the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia, Sir Julian Le Grand from London School of Economics, Prof Li Ling from the Centre for Economic Research, China, Prof Srinath Reddy, Public Health Foundation, India, and Hussein Reka from Qatar’s Supreme Council of Health. The session was moderated by Stephen Sackur from BBC.




Minister meets  delegates taking part in WISH
HE the Minister of Public Health Abdullah bin Khalid al-Qahtani yesterday met some of the delegates taking part in the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) at Qatar National Convention Centre.
He met Fouad Mohadji, vice-president of Comoros and responsible for the Ministry of Health; Dr Nicolae B?nicioiu, Romanian minister of health; Prof Dorothée K Gazard, Benin’s minister of health; and Elmer G Punzalan, the Philippines’ minister of health, in separate meetings, and discussed ways of mutual co-operation in the health field.
HE al-Qahtani stressed the importance of WISH and its success. He also highly appreciated the important speech HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, gave yesterday.


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