Designing health financing policy towards universal coverage

How health systems are financed largely determines whether people can obtain needed health care and whether they suffer financial hardship as a result of obtaining care. Both design and implementation of an adequate health financing system are essential in the pursuit of universal coverage, i.e. essential health services and interventions provided at a cost affordable for all. Universal coverage implies equity of access and financial risk protection; this health policy goal clearly imposes important demands on those responsible for health system financing.