Health disparities remain one of the defining global challenges of our time. Nearly 4.5 billion people lack access to basic health services, and maternal mortality rates in low-income countries remain 100 times higher than in high-income regions. This alarming gap threatens the achievements of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.8 on universal health coverage (UHC). These inequalities are a result of systematic underinvestment, fragmented governance and limited integration of digital health solutions.

To close these gaps, a comprehensive health diplomacy framework is needed – one that aligns political will and financial commitments and ensures governance reforms with the aim of fulfilling health equity. This blog post provides an overview of the three critical pillars of UHC – sustainable financing, digital infrastructure and health workforce – identifying persistent challenges in these areas. It also provides actionable recommendations to support member states and global stakeholders in accelerating prioritisation of these three facets and mobilising national and global actions towards the SDG agenda.

 Sustainable financing for universal health coverage

UHC is vital to achieving an equitable healthcare system by eliminating financial and gender-based barriers to healthcare, eliminating user fees for vulnerable populations to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure by up to half in limited resource areas, thus breaking the poverty–illness cycle. Yet, according to a 2023 study by the WHO and World Bank, 4.5 billion people still do not have access to affordable healthcare. Out-of-pocket expenditures for vital drugs and primary care force many to incur catastrophic debt. This cost is worsened by rising non-communicable disease rates, the health effects of climate change and reduced national budgetary allocations. Gender disparities and complexity within conflict or humanitarian settings exacerbate these gaps. Achieving SDG3.8 on UHC requires not only political will but also strong technical, financial and policy support.

Building resilient healthcare systems that protect populations from present and emerging health hazards requires sustainable, creative financing mechanisms. Integrating sustainable financing into G20 Health Track discussions is critical to furthering the SDGs, the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the Lusaka Agenda.

Digital health infrastructure: Tools and trust via data sharing

The G20 2023 Action Plan emphasises the importance of investing in digital health infrastructure and governance structures to improve accuracy, transparency and equity in healthcare delivery. When combined with strong governance frameworks, digital tools – ranging from electronic health records and telemedicine platforms to geospatial resource mapping – act as powerful equalisers, lowering maternal mortality in underserved areas by more than 20% and ensuring that resources reach marginalised communities. The WHO’s Global Strategy on Digital Health (2020–2025) and the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration both underline the importance of integrating digital innovation into broader sustainable health finance and governance frameworks.

Countries such as Rwanda and Estonia show that when national health information exchanges are built on solid digital governance and community trust, the path to universal health coverage is significantly accelerated. Integrating these practices into global frameworks shifts innovation from isolated efforts to systemic transformation, ensuring that equity becomes an inherent component of digital infrastructure.

Health workforce equity

A resilient healthcare system depends on a well-trained, supported and engaged workforce. Despite this, in many low-resource settings, chronic shortages, precarity in work conditions and other opportunity gaps undermine healthcare performance and delivery. Investing in healthcare workforce equity is a critical component of developing resilient health systems. A focused strategy that combines gender equity, fair remuneration, ongoing professional development and community-based training programmes not only increases workforce retention by up to 20% in places with shortages but also turns frontline workers into resilient change agents.

Achieving workforce equity necessitates resolving inequities in recruiting, advancement and compensation to provide an atmosphere in which all healthcare professionals, regardless of gender or background, may flourish. Equitable workforce policies also encourage culturally responsive care, which is essential for servicing diverse populations. Programmes that integrate local community insights with international best practices enable healthcare staff to advocate for their patients and contribute to targeted long-term health treatments. Strengthening these frameworks via targeted investment and policy support not only reduces the risk of burnout but also creates a more dedicated and dynamic health workforce capable of pushing progress toward universal health coverage and better public health outcomes.

Recommendations: Improving equity by strengthening healthcare systems

To advance health equity and build resilient systems, the following steps are pivotal.

• Ensure UHC, digital health management and support for health workers are included in the G20 agenda and international health financial programmes, so they align with countries’ priorities.
• Collect detailed data that reflects a breakdown of results by different groups to support the design of policies that provide vulnerable populations with the ability to monitor progress.
• Forge incremental efforts for global funding in high-income countries to commit 0.1% of their GDP to frontline health services and diseases monitoring, as recommended by the Rome Declaration and Gandhinagar Health Initiative.
• Promote digital tools that are trustworthy and fair, and make sure they are part of overall health system improvements.
• Strengthen international cooperation and solidarity of initiatives such as COVAX and the Pandemic Fund, to promote improved healthcare access.

Conclusion

Health diplomacy is not a theoretical concept; it drives real, practical change. It incorporates strong governance, sustainable funding and digital innovation to ensure that healthcare systems are designed with the aim of achieving UHC and improving equity as a central pillar of global health by 2030.