Universal Health Coverage Day 2021: “Protect and invest in health and care workers”

Every year on 12 December, Universal Health Coverage Day is a time to renew global efforts to ensure people receive the health care they need, whenever they need it.

This year, WHO/Europe will mark Universal Health Coverage Day on 13 December with a special event recognizing the life-saving contributions of health and care workers across the entire European Region.

Health and care workers are the cornerstone of health systems and play a crucial role in advancing universal health coverage (UHC). The year 2021 has been dedicated to all health and care workers, and this special event is an opportunity for everyone to join in the call to "Protect and invest in health and care workers."

Show your support for health and care workers by joining this live event on 13 December, starting at 18:00 Central European Time. The event will be streamed live on WHO/Europe's Facebook page and YouTube channel (see links below).

Universal health coverage

Everyone everywhere deserves access to quality essential health services without suffering financial hardship. UHC Day is the annual rallying point for advocates to raise their voices and share the stories of the millions of people still waiting for health care, to call on leaders to make smarter investments in health, and to remind the world about the imperative of UHC.

UHC cannot be achieved without health workers

UHC 2021's theme is “Leave no one’s health behind: invest in health systems for all”, and WHO/Europe will shine a spotlight on how health and care workers make this theme a reality, every day.

Health and care workers are fundamental to UHC and to the smooth running of sustainable health and care systems.

Event programme

During the event we will hear the stories of 4 health workers, working in different health care areas in 4 different countries: Denmark, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania and Malta.

After each of the stories, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, and Dr Natasha Azzopardi Muscat, Director of the Division of Country Health Policies and Systems, WHO/Europe, will reflect on what needs to be done to better protect and invest in health-care workers.

Join the conversation on social media with #UHCDay.