International Universal Health Coverage Day, 12 Dec 2025 - Importance & Theme
The International Universal Health Coverage Day is celebrated on the 12th of December annually to urge the campaigners and defenders to raise their voices and convey stories of the several lakhs of people who are still waiting for health, for leaders to make more strategic investments in health, and for the world to remember the importance of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). It is a United Nations-designated day commemorating the anniversary of the unanimous support of UHC as an urgent priority for international development in 2012.
Importance of International Universal Health Coverage Day
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) will be feasible only when everyone, everywhere, has access to the health care they require. Communities should be given the ability to establish their own health priorities and participate in the development of appropriate solutions.
Healthcare and other sectors should collaborate to ensure that all health decisions are addressed in an integrated manner. This can be achieved by promoting policies to safeguard and strengthen the health and well-being of people, providing information, services, and infrastructure for improved water and sanitation, and addressing other environmental factors affecting health. Other measures include:
Preventing non-communicable diseases, preparedness for and response to health emergencies
Providing services for pregnant women
Sexual and reproductive health services
Platforms for community consultation etc
Other measures should also be provided to ensure overall health and well-being.
International Universal Health Coverage Day 2025 Theme
This year, 2025, the International Universal Health Coverage Day Theme is "Unaffordable health costs? We're sick of it!". This theme highlights that unaffordable healthcare costs cause widespread financial hardship, forcing millions to forgo essential needs. It calls for urgent action to make healthcare affordable and accessible for all, crucial for improving health equity and overall wellbeing globally.
Year by year, the themes of International Universal Health Coverage Day are:
International Universal Health Coverage Day 2024 Theme: Health: It's on the Government
International Universal Health Coverage Day 2023 Theme: Health for All: Time for Action
International Universal Health Coverage Day 2022 Theme: Build the world we want: A healthy future for all
International Universal Health Coverage Day 2021 Theme: Inequities undermine our efforts to protect, promote and improve health for all and, as a result, threaten social and economic development worldwide
International Universal Health Coverage Day 2020 Theme: Health for all—Protect everyone
International Universal Health Coverage Day 2019 Theme: Keep the Promise
International Universal Health Coverage Day 2018 Theme: Unite for Universal Health Coverage: Now is the Time for Collective Action
History of International Universal Health Coverage Day
On the 12th of December 2012, the United Nations General Assembly issued a resolution urging countries to accelerate their efforts to attain universal health coverage (UHC), which means that everyone should have access to quality and affordable healthcare. Later, on the 12th of December 2017, the United Nations adopted Resolution 72/138, thus officially designating the day as International Universal Health Coverage Day.
Every year on 12 December, International Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day is observed to reinforce the global commitment to “Health for All.” The campaign includes educational activities to raise awareness about equitable access to healthcare, public engagement initiatives that advocate for stronger health systems, and symbolic events such as illuminating landmarks. Green and blue are often used to represent health, equity, and solidarity towards achieving Universal Health Coverage worldwide.
