Universal health coverage (UHC) is a vision where all people and communities have access to quality health services where and when they need them, without suffering financial hardship. It includes the full spectrum of services needed throughout life—from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care—and is best based on a strong primary health care system.

The concept of UHC is much in line with the goal of China’s Health Reform since 2009, which aims to provide establish a universal basic health care system providing safe, effective, convenient and affordable health services to all by 2020.