Abstract
Universal health coverage (UHC) is defined as people having access to quality healthcare services (e.g., treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care) they need, irrespective of their financial status. Access to quality healthcare services continues to be a challenge for many people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of this study was to conduct a scoping review to map out the health system strengthening strategies that can be used to attain universal health coverage in Africa. We conducted a scoping review and qualitatively synthesized existing evidence from studies carried out in Africa. We included studies that reported interventions to strengthen the health system, e.g., financial support, increasing work force, improving leadership capacity in health facilities, and developing and upgrading infrastructure of primary healthcare facilities. Outcome measures included health facility infrastructures, access to medicines, and sources of financial support. A total of 34 studies conducted met our inclusion criteria. Health financing and developing health infrastructure were the most reported interventions toward achieving UHC. Our results suggest that strengthening the health system, namely, through health financing, developing, and improving the health infrastructure, can play an important role in reaching UHC in the African context.
Highlights
Introduction iationsUniversal health coverage (UHC) is defined as people having access to quality healthcare services they need, irrespective of their financial status [1]
UHC, which entails ensuring that all individuals have access to quality healthcare without any financial difficulties, forms part of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development goals
The studies included in this review reported that the above-mentioned strategies could play an important role toward reaching UHC in low- and middle-income settings in Africa
Summary
Universal health coverage (UHC) is defined as people having access to quality healthcare services (e.g., treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care) they need, irrespective of their financial status [1]. Access to quality healthcare services continues to be a problem for many individuals and communities in LMICs. Most people residing in LMICs do not have access to quality healthcare services and financial risk protection [1,2]. In the context of LMICs, quality implies access to timely, safe, affordable, and effective treatments without discrimination by socioeconomic status [3,4]. In Africa, access and coverage of essential healthcare services is poor due to various challenges, namely, the shortage and inequitable distribution of healthcare providers; service capacity (e.g., stockouts of medicines and healthcare equipment, inadequate number of health professionals); late payment to health professionals; physical accessibility to primary health centers; poor.
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