12 December is recognized globally as Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, an official United Nations celebration marking the anniversary of UHC being unanimously adopted as a global development priority in 2012. Ensuring health for all is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, since healthier populations foster more resilient, productive, peaceful and prosperous communities.
However, despite progress, millions of people still delay or forgo healthcare due to financial barriers, which risks worsening their health outcomes and increasing long-term economic and social costs. In 2025, the UN will highlight the devastating human impact of unaffordable healthcare. Even though there are high-level political commitments to achieving UHC by 2030, one in four people worldwide faces financial hardship when paying out-of-pocket for health services, often at the expense of basic necessities such as food, education or housing. On this UHC Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for urgent action to implement financial protection measures and eliminate healthcare costs, particularly for vulnerable populations.
While Portugal performs well on the Universal Health Coverage Index (achieving 82 out of 100 according to World Bank data), research conducted at GHTM | IHMT NOVA by Maria do Rorário Martins research team (PPS-GHTM) reveals that significant inequalities persist in access to healthcare, particularly among the most vulnerable groups, including immigrant families. These disparities were further exacerbated during the pandemic, and several GHTM publications have presented policy recommendations aimed at addressing and mitigating these gaps.
Similarly, a collaborative study in Maputo that examined barriers to accessing healthcare—including HIV and cardiovascular services—among men revealed striking socioeconomic inequalities, highlighting the long road ahead towards achieving true universal health coverage. Promoting a universal health system that serves everyone equitably and integratively remains one of the most effective pathways to achieving this goal.
In order to achieve UHC, health systems must ensure effective access, quality care and financial protection. However, this also depends on having an adequate, motivated and equitably distributed health workforce. Several research projects developed by Tiago Correia (PPS-GHTM), coordinated or supported by GHTM, directly contribute to this goal.
For example, VAX-Trust and VAX-Action aim to reduce vaccine hesitancy and promote effective interventions that boost vaccination coverage and confidence in immunisation programmes.
Studies conducted within the WHO Collaborating Centre (WHOCC) hosted at GHTM generate essential knowledge for attracting, retaining and valuing health professionals — a key condition for sustainable public health systems.
The WHOCC also strengthens national and international capacities in health workforce planning and management, helping to align Lusophone countries with global WHO agendas.
Together, these initiatives fortify the human, institutional and social foundations of health systems, advancing universal health coverage for all.