Achieving universal access to quality healthcare

Overview

Many countries face challenges in providing their citizens with universal access to essential health services. Direct out-of-pocket payments for consultation, procedures and medicines and commodities are among the most prevailing barriers to accessing RMNCH and other health services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); however, other important obstacles exist. Indirect costs for transport, opportunity costs of missing work, patchy coverage of health facilities, medicine stock out, health clinics that are either in poor condition or are insensitive to patient needs, lack of provider incentives, and sociocultural-, gender- or age-based norms are all potential implementation barriers to women’s and children’s access to services.