Invest in health and uphold rights to “build back better” after COVID-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is not just a health crisis – it is a full-blown economic and social crisis that is impacting the lives and livelihoods of billions of people. This commentary examines the mutually dependent relationship between health security and universal health coverage (UHC), and how the longstanding underinvestment in both renders us all vulnerable. It also discusses the vulnerability of services for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in times of crisis, which is compounded when these services are not included and well integrated into national UHC packages. It concludes with a call for stronger political leadership for UHC and SRHR as the global community strives to “build back better” after COVID-19.

Keywords

• universal health coverage
• global health security
• sexual and reproductive health and rights
• covid-19
• political leadership