What is a potential effect of climate change on UHC?

The selected answer highlights a crucial and pressing issue related to climate change and its implications for Universal Health Coverage (UHC). As climate change progresses, it creates a variety of health challenges, such as increased prevalence of heat-related illnesses, respiratory issues from poor air quality, and a rise in vector-borne diseases due to changing habitats for insects like mosquitoes. These health problems not only threaten individual well-being but also put immense pressure on health systems that may already be stretched in their capacity to provide care.

Health systems may struggle to cope with the rising incidence of climate-related health issues, leading to increased demand for healthcare services. This situation can result in longer wait times, overwhelmed facilities, and potentially inadequate responses to other healthcare needs. Furthermore, the economic burden of treating these newly emerging health problems may divert resources away from effective and preventive healthcare measures. Overall, the exacerbation of health problems due to climate change poses significant challenges to achieving and maintaining UHC, which aims to ensure that all people have access to necessary health services without financial hardship.