Universal Health CoverageVocabulary and Expressionsuniversal health coverage

Universal Health Coverage
   It is often said that the best ideas are those you can explain clearly and understandably to your grandmother. So when we talk about universal health coverage, or people-centred care, or integrated service delivery, would my grandmother understand?
   "Chere grand-maman,
   Today I want to tell you about my work at WHO and about the steps we are taking to progressively change the life of all people in the world. I want to talk to you about universal health coverage, people-centred care and integrated service delivery.
   With universal health coverage, you need no longer worry that illness will eat into your modest savings or bankrupt your family. You need not be concerned that you won’t be able to get the health services you need, or that they might be of poor quality. You won’t need to fear that the choice of the right doctor could be a question of life or death.
   With people-centred care, when you go for an appointment at a health centre, you will be respected as a person — not simply treated as a medical case.
   As you keep telling me, you’re not a spring chicken any more. Your body hurts in more than one place. But at your age, you have learnt enough about that body and the way you live your life to deserve to have a say in what sort of care will work for you.
   You’ll be able to stop racing through town to see all those specialists who give you different opinions — and new pills — as they look at your different health issues in isolation, or sometimes in contradiction.
   Finally, you will be looked at as a whole person — a decision maker with a responsibility for your own health.
   With integrated service delivery, the nurse or your doctor will also talk to you about your diet and confirm that you should exercise more... A healthy lifestyle will be key to your wellbeing so you can continue to host us all for the many birthday parties that lie ahead of you.
   I hope that within the next 20 years, universal health coverage will enable all future generations to obtain affordable, quality person-centred and integrated health care — wherever they live.
   Your granddaughter,
   Marie-Paule. "