UN: One in Four People Worldwide Cannot Afford Healthcare
Tawazon – The United Nations says nearly two billion people, about one-quarter of the world’s population, struggle to afford basic healthcare costs, forcing many families to sacrifice essential needs like food, education or housing in order to pay for treatment.
In a statement released in Geneva, the UN warned that the growing financial burden of healthcare has created a deep global inequality, pushing millions int poverty and preventing vulnerable communities from accessing life-saving medical services.
Marking Universal Health Coverage Day, the UN and the World Health Organization (WHO) renewed their call on world leaders to invest in Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to ensure that everyone, regardless of income or social status,can access healthcare without suffering financial hardship.
“The high cost of healthcare is driving millions of people into poverty. We are tired of this injustice, health must not be a luxury. It is a basic human right,” the statement said.
The campaign is part of a broader global effort by the UN and WHO to build fairer, more resilient, and more affordable healthcare systems, especially in low-income countries.
