Framing the determinants of health and well-being for universal health coverage

Improving health and well-being is one of the overriding goals of all nations. Th e United Nation���s Declaration on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 emphasised this (1). Goal 3 is about good health and well-being. Universal health coverage (UHC) is framed along 16 other indicators. Medical care and its role in health improvement is the most prominent model for attaining these measures in Uganda and most countries. The framing of SDGs, however, brings a broadened agenda for the determinants of good health and well-being. Goal 3 seeks to ensure health and well-being for all, at every stage of life. Th e goal addresses all major health priorities, including reproductive, maternal and child health; communicable, non-communicable and environmental diseases; UHC; and access for all to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines and vaccines. It also calls for more research and development, increased health financing, and strengthened capacity of all countries in health risk reduction and management (1). In terms of measuring success and programming, UHC provides three progressive actions to be undertaken: 1) expanding the health service packages of good quality; 2) progressively expanding the populations that have access to the service packages; and 3) financing the service packages in a manner that is affordable to individuals, communities and nation states.