Countries and partners have reported significant progress toward the World Bank Group’s goal of delivering affordable, quality health services to 1.5 billion people by 2030, a target announced in April 2024. Building on this momentum, 15 countries have introduced National Health Compacts, which outline practical five-year reforms aimed at expanding primary health care, improving affordability, and supporting job-rich economic growth. Since the initiative began, the World Bank Group and partners have helped 375 million people access quality, affordable care, and efforts are underway with approximately 45 countries to scale proven primary care approaches that strengthen health outcomes while generating employment in health workforces, local supply chains, and supporting industries.
The 2025 Global Monitoring Report, released at the Tokyo Universal Health Coverage High-Level Forum, highlights ongoing challenges, including aging populations, rising chronic disease, and financial pressures. It shows that 4.6 billion people lack access to essential health services, and 2.1 billion face financial hardship due to health expenses. These figures underscore the need for long-term, coordinated reforms to build resilient and equitable health systems. World Bank Group President Ajay Banga emphasized that strong primary health systems not only safeguard health but also support jobs and economic opportunity, noting the importance of practical, scalable solutions.
The National Health Compacts serve as country-led roadmaps, aligning Health and Finance Ministries behind measurable targets and guiding support from development partners. The reforms focus on expanding the reach and quality of primary care, improving financial protection, and strengthening the health workforce. Countries have committed to mobilizing new financing, digitally enabling health workers, modernizing facilities, expanding insurance coverage, and leveraging digital tools to improve service delivery. Examples include the Philippines digitally connecting health facilities nationwide, Uzbekistan reducing workloads through process digitization, and Sierra Leone constructing new facilities to ensure primary care access within five kilometers.
Other initiatives include diversifying primary care delivery, such as Bangladesh’s multi-platform models and Indonesia’s telemedicine expansion connecting over 600 facilities to hospitals. Countries are also digitally enabling the health workforce, with Ethiopia equipping primary health centers with digital tools and Saint Lucia modernizing workforce education and regulation. Efforts to remove financial barriers include Kenya doubling public health spending and expanding social health insurance, and Morocco extending mandatory coverage to millions more. Nigeria is boosting regional manufacturing by training pharmaceutical and biotech professionals, creating Centers of Excellence, and expanding local production of vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics.
Coordinated support is critical to achieving the 1.5 billion health coverage goal. The World Bank Group, Gavi, and the Global Fund have announced aligned financing, including $2 billion in co-financing. Philanthropic partners are mobilizing up to $410 million to strengthen critical health areas, while Seed Global Health provides capacity-building and technical support for advanced workforce development. Countries also receive technical assistance from Japan, the United Kingdom, and others. To promote knowledge sharing, Japan, WHO, and the World Bank Group launched the Universal Health Coverage Knowledge Hub, offering evidence-based solutions and peer learning.
The Universal Health Coverage High-Level Forum brought together health and finance ministers, business leaders, philanthropies, global health agencies, and civil society. The 15 countries that launched National Health Compacts are Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Indonesia, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Syria, Tajikistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Zambia, marking a major step forward in global health system strengthening and universal health coverage.
