Singapore: In a recent meeting held at Singapore, the World Health Organization described universal healthcare as a powerful tool to fight inequality and achieve uniform growth in health standards across the globe. The agency said that lack of universal health coverage is pushing more than million people below the poverty line.

A new report calling on universal health coverage (UHC) to be implemented across the globe was released and debated at World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH). The agency described Universal health coverage as a "strong, efficient, well-run health system" that combines affordability, access to essential medicines and technologies, as well as sufficient healthcare workers.

"Universal health coverage is one of the most powerful social equalizers among all policy options. It is the ultimate expression of fairness," WHO director general Ms Margaret Chan said at a ministerial meeting on universal healthcare in Singapore.

The organization further added that the scheme will ensure that all people receive health services they need without suffering hardships and financial constraints. The WHO chief lauded Singapore's recently launched universal health insurance scheme, which provides nearly 3.0 billion in subsidies to help the elderly and lower-income people.