1. Senior Fellow and Head of UHC Policy Forum
Freedom of movement and the right to an equitable access to healthcare within the EU
EIN Seminar
European Parliament
20th February 2019
Robert Yates
Senior Fellow and Head of UHC Policy Forum
Chatham House

2. A simple definition on UHC:
“The right to an equitable access to healthcare = Universal Health Coverage”
A simple definition on UHC:
All people receive the quality health services they need without suffering financial hardship

3. UHC is Driving the Global Health Agenda
UNGA Resolution on UHC December 2012
Designated UN UHC Day from Dec 12th 2018
UNGA UHC Summit 2019
SDG Target 3.8
WHO, World Bank and other agencies promoting UHC as best way to reach SDG 3

4. UHC is fundamentally about EQUITY
Universal = Everybody. Nobody left behind
Health services allocated according to need
Health financing contributions according to one’s ability to pay
Healthy-wealthy cross-subsidise the sick and the poor
UHC can only be achieved through public financing and switching to a public system is inherently political

5. Europe is the birthplace of UHC
Otto von Bismarck
Architect of Social Health Insurance
Aneurin Bevan
Founder of the NHS

6. We British Love Our NHS

7. This love can be exploited

8. The NHS Depends on EU Health workers

9. Freedom of Movement facilitates UHC and Vice Versa
Human Resources are one of the core health systems building blocks required for UHC
Free movement improves the working of the EU healthcare labour market and helps reduce recruitment from developing nations
Transferable rights to access good quality healthcare facilitates labour mobility

10. Brexit Britain is moving away from UHC

11. Is the US finally going to embrace UHC?

12. Gavin Newsom bringing UHC to California?

13. India: At last healthcare is climbing the political agenda but will it follow the US or Europe?

14. Concluding thoughts
Universal Health Coverage is driving the global health agenda and is the best way to reach the health SDG
UHC in Europe is facilitated by free movement and vice versa
Europe is the birthplace of UHC and we should be doing more to help other countries reach and retain UHC – including the US and the UK!

15. For daily updates on UHC follow: @yates_rob