In many parts of the world, citizens face significant barriers to affordable and equitable healthcare services, including access to essential medicines. To mark the Universal Health Coverage Day, it is imperative to revindicate this fundamental right and acknowledge that healthcare remains a distant reality for millions of individuals.

The lack of access to a robust healthcare system not only affects society but disproportionately affects more vulnerable populations, including women and children. In addition,  health inequalities are exacerbated as medicine can transform our lives by preventing diseases and chronic conditions and promoting a balanced lifestyle which can improve the overall quality of life.

The Role of Public Healthcare in Improving Lives

Accessing basic healthcare services can lead to a healthier population, contributing to the country’s economy, as accessible healthcare is not just about answering an illness but promoting preventive care that addresses health issues, reducing the long-term burdens of the system and increasing its sustainability. Moreover, after the COVID-19 pandemic, access to mental health services and community care has risen, reflecting the holistic understanding of health as one.

Room for Improvement

In Europe, in particular, while public healthcare systems contribute to the well-being of their citizens, they are not without flaws. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed their vulnerabilities, particularly regarding the lack of specialised professionals and preparedness and resources during crises. This has increased disparities in certain regions across the European Union and has significantly impacted European citizens’ quality of life and Europe’s economy. To address these challenges, European governments must invest more in infrastructure in building resilient and sustainable infrastructures, increase the use of advanced technology and digital medicine tools, and retain high-skilled healthcare personnel.

Healthcare as a Privilege: A False Narrative

In this sense, the narrative that accessible healthcare rights are a privilege undermines the basic human principles of dignity and well-being. Public healthcare systems demonstrate that when a society prioritises health, it lays the foundation for a more just, empathetic, and prosperous world.

A Right for Everyone

Access to healthcare changes lives—not as an abstract principle, but as a tangible reality that recognising healthcare as a universal right is not just an ethical imperative; it is a practical one that contributes to better societies.