World Health Organization and World Bank Group have conducted a global assessment of health‑service access and financial protection, and their latest 2025 report finds that most countries have made progress toward Universal Health Coverage, but massive gaps remain.
Overall health service coverage, measured by the Service Coverage Index (SCI), rose from 54 points in 2000 to 71 in 2023, while the share of people experiencing financial hardship due to out‑of‑pocket health spending dropped from 34 % in 2000 to 26 % in 2022.
Despite these gains, an estimated 4.6 billion people globally still lack access to essential health services, and 2.1 billion people face financial hardship when seeking care — including 1.6 billion who have been pushed into poverty or deeper poverty by medical expenses.
Progress has slowed since 2015. Although service coverage improved in nearly all countries since 2000, only about one‑third have simultaneously increased service coverage and reduced financial hardship. Low‑income countries saw the fastest gains, but they still carry the largest gaps.
The report warns that if the current pace continues, by 2030 the SCI may reach only 74 out of 100 — leaving nearly one‑in‑four people worldwide still grappling with catastrophic health costs.
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