Education, leadership and partnerships: nursing potential for Universal Health Coverage.

Isabel Amélia Costa Mendes,Leila Maria Marchi-Alves,Carla Aparecida Arena Ventura,Valtuir Duarte De Souza-Junior,Maria Auxiliadora Trevizan

doi:10.1590/1518-8345.1092.2673

Isabel Amélia Costa Mendes, Leila Maria Marchi-Alves + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.1092.2673

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Abstract

Objective: to discuss possibilities of nursing contribution for universal health coverage. Method: a qualitative study, performed by means of document analysis of the World Health Organization publications highlighting Nursing and Midwifery within universal health coverage. Results: documents published by nursing and midwifery leaders point to the need for coordinated and integrated actions in education, leadership and partnership development. Final Considerations: this article represents a call for nurses, in order to foster reflection and understanding of the relevance of their work on the consolidation of the principles of universal health coverage.

Highlights

Some countries consider health care to be a fundamental right, or a commodity
It was defined that the interpretation process and data discussion would be based on World Health Organization (WHO) official documents related to universal health coverage
The document, Nursing and Midwifery Services Strategic Directions (2011 to 2015) – NMSSD, published in 2010, was developed based on research results led by the WHO, with the Global Advisory Group on Nursing and Midwifery (GAGNM), Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centers for Nursing and Midwifery (GNWHOCC), International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), International Council of Nurses (ICN), International Labor Organization (ILO) and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing participation

Summary

Introduction

Some countries consider health care to be a fundamental right, or a commodity. For over a century, universal health coverage has represented a dream come true in most developed countries, it is still a goal to be achieved in developing countries[1].The consolidation of universal health coverage is directly related to multiple, complex factors internal and external to the health system, including economic, social, political, ethical and legal aspects. According to Carissa Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), governments have a moral imperative to seek ways to improve equity and promote health and development, and universal coverage is the way to reach that[3]. In this context, there are two clear reasons for a commitment to universal health care coverage: the first is linked to the right of each individual to health and health care, and the second refers to reflections of individual health problems for the community, and of the developing countries for the developed countries. Despite government commitments, effective access to health care depends heavily on both economic and social conditions of the countries involved[4]

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