15 Nations Unveil Health Compacts as World Bank Pushes Toward 1.5 Billion Coverage Goal

Since the goal was set, the World Bank Group and its partners have already helped 375 million people gain access to more affordable, higher-quality health services.

Countries and global health partners reported significant momentum toward the World Bank Group’s goal of delivering affordable, quality health services to 1.5 billion people by 2030, a target first announced in April 2024. At the Tokyo Universal Health Coverage (UHC) High-Level Forum, delegates showcased early successes as well as new commitments aimed at transforming primary health care, strengthening health systems, and driving inclusive economic growth.

Since the goal was set, the World Bank Group and its partners have already helped 375 million people gain access to more affordable, higher-quality health services. Work is now underway in about 45 countries to scale proven, job-generating primary care models that build stronger health outcomes while creating employment across health workforces, pharmaceutical supply chains, digital health systems, and related industries.

These efforts come at a time when countries are grappling with aging populations, rising chronic disease, widening inequality, and economic constraints. According to the 2025 Global Monitoring Report, released at the forum:

• 4.6 billion people still lack access to essential health services.

• 2.1 billion experience financial hardship due to medical expenses. These figures highlight the urgent need for sustained reforms and coordinated action to build resilient, equitable health systems that protect populations and promote long-term economic development.

World Bank Group President Ajay Banga stressed the link between strong health systems and economic progress. “Strong primary health systems do more than safeguard health—they support jobs and economic opportunity,” he said. “Countries are stepping forward with clear priorities, and we are working alongside them to deliver practical solutions at scale. When efforts align behind what works, impact grows.”

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National Health Compacts: Country-Led Roadmaps for Reform

At the Tokyo forum, 15 countries introduced National Health Compacts, which outline practical, five-year reform plans endorsed by heads of state and national finance ministries. These compacts aim to:

• Expand the reach and quality of primary care

• Improve financial protection and affordability

• Strengthen and digitally enable the health workforce

• Modernize facilities and accelerate insurance expansion

The compacts are aligned with each country’s economic and health priorities and are designed to guide development partners toward coordinated, accountable support.

Examples of national reforms include:

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Investing in service-ready, connected facilities

• Philippines: Digitizing all national health facilities to improve service integration.

• Uzbekistan: Digitizing administrative processes to cut workloads by 30%.

• Sierra Leone: Ensuring every citizen can access quality primary care within 5 km, constructing 300 new facilities, and equipping 1,800 with solar power and digital connectivity.

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Diversifying primary care delivery

• Bangladesh: Expanding multi-platform primary care models using updated regulations and digital tools.

• Indonesia: Scaling digital primary care through telemedicine, linking more than 600 facilities with hospitals.

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Digitally enabling and strengthening the workforce

• Ethiopia: Providing digital tools to support clinical care and workforce management in at least 40% of primary health centers.

• Saint Lucia: Investing in a skilled, digitally enabled workforce while modernizing professional regulation and educational pathways.

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Removing financial barriers to care

• Kenya: Doubling public health spending within five years to reach 5% of GDP, expanding insurance coverage from 26% to 85%, and subsidizing coverage for vulnerable populations.

• Morocco: Expanding mandatory health insurance to 22 million additional people.

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Boosting regional manufacturing of health technologies

• Nigeria: Training 10,000 pharmaceutical and biotech professionals, establishing Centers of Excellence, and offering tax incentives for producing vaccines, diagnostics, and essential medical technologies locally.

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Mobilizing Partnerships and Financing to Support Country Priorities

Achieving the 1.5 billion coverage goal depends on coordinated international support. To advance the new National Health Compacts and broader reforms:

• World Bank Group, Gavi, and the Global Fund announced aligned financing, including US$2 billion co-financed with each institution.

• Philanthropic partners, through the Global Financing Facility and the Health Systems Transformation and Resilience Fund, aim to mobilize up to US$410 million in catalytic support.

• Seed Global Health will assist compact countries with health workforce assessments, planning, and policy design.

• Japan, the United Kingdom, and additional partners will provide technical assistance for reform implementation.

• To enhance global learning, Japan, WHO, and the World Bank Group launched the Universal Health Coverage Knowledge Hub, giving countries access to evidence-based practices and peer-to-peer learning networks.

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A Global Gathering for Universal Health Coverage

The UHC High-Level Forum in Tokyo brought together an influential group of leaders: health and finance ministers, development banks, private-sector actors, philanthropic organizations, and civil society groups. Their discussions underscored that universal health coverage is not only a health priority but an economic and social imperative for sustainable development.