The journey to universal health coverage: Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic

Universal health coverage (UHC) is a critical global health goal, aimed at ensuring that all individuals and communities have access to essential health services without experiencing the financial hardship.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the significance of robust health care systems and the need for UHC. Serving as a catalyst for transformative change by urging nations to prioritize health as a fundamental human right, the pandemic has highlighted the necessity for solidarity in addressing health challenges, and emphasized the value of preparedness, resilience, and inclusivity in health systems. The lessons learned from the pandemic inspire us toward a renewed commitment to building resilient, equitable, and accessible health care systems for the well-being of all.

Led by Population Services International, and with support from UNITAID, PATH India implemented the STAR Africa, Asia, Americas COVID-19 Preparedness (3ACP) project, examining various aspects of COVID-19 diagnostics. This multi-country project involved a consortium of partners across several nations. The project yielded valuable insights into the feasibility and effectiveness of antigen-detection rapid diagnostic tests and self-testing in different settings.

Additionally, it generated knowledge on procurement and supply chain practices for COVID-19 diagnostic products. The documentation of treatment guidelines and protocols also offered insights into best practices and challenges, highlighting the implementation and utilization of AI tools for screening and diagnosis. Evidence generated from this project has the potential to contribute significantly to national guidelines and pandemic preparedness efforts.

PATH has developed and disseminated high-quality, reliable, and ready-reference knowledge products, such as guidance documents on patient support groups, technical briefs, COVID-19 clinical management protocols, and more.

Author(s): PATH

Publication date: December 2023

Available materials

    1. Documenting COVID-19 clinical management protocols in India

      The project successfully documented the evolution of COVID-19 treatment guidelines and protocols. Our objective was to illuminate the decision-making process of authorities as they considered, synthesized, and applied both local and global evidence.

      Additionally, we aimed to highlight how decentralized, state-level innovations were not only encouraged but also scaled up. Employing qualitative approaches, we developed a comprehensive framework to map information presented in COVID-19 treatment protocols. We assessed this information from both clinical management and public health perspectives.

      While the primary focus of the report is related to the clinical management of COVID-19, it takes a broader view from a public health perspective. The document encapsulates key learnings and best practices intended to be valuable for a diverse audience, including clinicians, policymakers, public health professionals, clinical and public health researchers, as well as risk communication specialists.
    2. Human-centered design study on behavioural levers for COVID-19 self-testing

      In order to bolster demand creation and widen access to COVID-19 services, the project adopted a human-centered design (HCD) approach. This method was employed to comprehensively grasp the intricate behavioral factors influencing the utilization and reporting of COVID-19 self-testing kits.

      The objective was to contribute to the design of effective solutions to enhance COVID-19 self-testing and glean insights that could inform the development of comprehensive policy interventions. Notably, the project shared its findings at a prominent international conference.
    3. Human-centered design study on behavioral levers for integrated screening of COVID-19 and tuberculosis

      The project adopted a HCD design approach to comprehensively grasp the behavioral levers associated with integrated screening for both COVID-19 and tuberculosis.

      The objective was to contribute to the design of effective solutions, and glean insights that could inform the development of comprehensive policy interventions.