The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines universal healthcare as a system that ensures everyone has access to the necessary health services they require, without facing financial difficulties.
However, according to WHO, around 4.5 billion people do not have access to universal healthcare coverage for essential services. As a result, individuals are forced to pay for healthcare services out of their own pockets.
This has led to 344 million people worldwide falling into extreme poverty and 1.3 billion people experiencing poverty due to the high costs of healthcare.
Healthcare Coverage in Nigeria
Access to affordable healthcare remains a major challenge for many Nigerians due to poverty and the need to pay out-of-pocket.
According to a report by PwC, only 3% of healthcare expenses in Nigeria were covered by health insurance from 2014 to 2016. The majority, around 72% to 75%, of healthcare funding in Nigeria comes from individuals paying out-of-pocket.
Between 2016 and 2021, the Nigerian health insurance scheme provided coverage to less than 5% of the population. The National Health Insurance Authority reports that less than 20% of Nigerians are registered under this scheme.
Methodology
Allub Times has utilized the World Health Organization’s universal healthcare coverage index to rank countries based on the availability of free or universal healthcare.
The universal healthcare coverage index assigns a value to each country based on the level of their universal healthcare coverage.
1. Canada
Canada has a UHC Service Coverage Index Value of 91.04. The country has a publicly funded health insurance scheme called Medicare, which ensures that all citizens and permanent residents have access to necessary healthcare. This system prioritizes healthcare based on need rather than ability to pay.
2. Republic of Korea
The Republic of Korea has a UHC Service Coverage Index Value of 89.09. The National Health Insurance Service in Korea ensures that people have access to healthcare services.
3. Iceland
Iceland has a UHC Service Coverage Index Value of 88.91. The healthcare system in Iceland covers the entire population and is funded by taxes and service fees.
4. Singapore
Singapore has a UHC Service Coverage Index Value of 88.52. The government of Singapore funds healthcare services through a combination of direct government subsidies, mandatory comprehensive savings, National healthcare insurance, and cost-sharing.
5. Germany
Germany has a UHC Service Coverage Index Value of 87.96. The entire population’s healthcare in Germany is covered by Statutory health insurance (SHI). The government also provides more comprehensive healthcare coverage through special schemes.
6. United Kingdom
UHC Service Coverage Index Value: 87.8
The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) offers free public healthcare to all residents. It is primarily funded through taxes.
7. Portugal
UHC Service Coverage Index Value: 87.91
Portugal’s National Health Service (SNS) provides healthcare services to all legal residents.
8. Norway
UHC Service Coverage Index Value: 87.03
Norway’s National Insurance Scheme (NIS) ensures healthcare for all residents. The plan is supported by taxes and payroll deductions.
9. Switzerland
UHC Service Coverage Index Value: 86.34
Switzerland has universal healthcare, but it is not completely free. It has the highest out-of-pocket spending rate in the world. However, this rate accounts for only 26% of its total health expenditure.
10. Australia
UHC Service Coverage Index Value: 86.78
Australia provides universal healthcare coverage through global insurance called Medicare. Public healthcare services in Australia are available to all Australian citizens, permanent residents, and some visitors and visa holders.
