Strengthening frontline services for universal health coverage by 2030

This consultation was held at a time of unparalleled international commitment to universal health coverage (UHC), but with rising concerns about the pace of progress since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015. Despite encouraging recent progress, projections suggest that, at the current rate, few countries in the South-East Asia Region (SEAR) will reach 80% essential service coverage by 2030. This is where the renewed attention to primary health care (PHC), especially frontline health services, comes in. Well functioning frontline (primary care) services are part of the solution to accelerating progress towards UHC. They can safely meet the majority of a person’s health needs, whatever their age or health condition, and are also equitable and efficient.

Today, many countries in SEAR recognize the need to strengthen frontline services, and much is happening. However, there is no blueprint on what to do. Common questions are: How can we introduce the new services needed to respond to changing health problems into our existing primary care? What can we do to increase use of frontline services? How can we best manage the required changes? To what extent do new technologies help accelerate progress? Can we afford these changes? Can we afford not to make them? How will we know if the changes are working?