Universal Health Coverage Going Global

Experts from as far away as Delhi and Geneva met in Washington, D.C., in early 2014 to discuss the growing momentum toward universal health coverage in a range of countries, especially emerging economies. Topics for the day-long conference included a brief history of the movement, the elements required to establish universal health coverage, and trends evident as countries struggle to meet the challenge. Participants—including Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank Group, and Nils Daulaire, assistant secretary for global affairs in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—also discussed the role of the private sector and efforts to make the most cost effective use of health care resources. This report summarizes the key messages from the meeting as experts described a trend considered crucial to ensuring social and economic stability in developing countries.