Briefing Note: Universal Health Coverage

This Briefing Note outlines Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the challenges it presents for sex workers and other criminalised populations. 

WHO defines UHC as a system where "all people have access to health services they need (prevention, promotion, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care) without the risk of financial hardship when paying for them". Challenges remain around ensuring adequate financing for UHC, and ensuring a rights-based approach when implementing UHC, so that key populations, including sex workers, are not left behind as a result of criminalisation, stigma and discrimination.