Giving Voice to Social Values in Achieving Universal Health Coverage

Access to relevant and affordable health services is a significant component of social protection, in particular, through universal health coverage (UHC). Despite the existing progress, achieving UHC is stalled or not on the right track. Worldwide, over 50% of people live without access to essential health services. Moreover, extended health emergencies such as the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) put enormous pressure on the health systems around the world. There is a need to approach health and health care systems from a sociological view if we are seeking to address the current challenges of UHC. Social factors are important when determining health and strengthening the health care systems. Here, we explain why social values and considerations are central to achieving UHC. Critical social values and issues in the journey of attaining UHC are described. Then, some recommendations to align health and health care systems with a sociological lens are suggested. Strong collaboration, making, and implementing health policies with the aim of equity and regard to social inequalities, decent governance through more transparency, accountability, and responsiveness, investing more in common goods for health, and more public participation are social considerations that accelerate UHC. We deeply believe that achieving UHC is possible by giving voice to and applying social values and taking a multidisciplinary approach.