Build back stronger universal health coverage systems after the COVID-19 pandemic: the need for better governance and linkage with universal social protection

Moving towards and sustaining Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is critically important to build resilient health systems and to promote more inclusive and fairer societies. The progressive realisation of UHC requires good governance and linkages with social protection systems. UHC policies should be coordinated with social protection systems providing social safety nets and coordinated governance is required across health and social sectors. This requires system-wide social and health policies breaking the boundaries of traditionally fragmented welfare systems and global health programmes.