As we mark Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, the global health community has much on which to reflect—and even more to act. The recent release of "Global Health 2050: The Path to Halving Premature Deaths by Mid-Century", launched in October at the World Health Summit in Berlin, provides an actionable vision to transform health systems and save millions of lives.

I was honoured to be among the co-authors of this report, which concludes that dramatic improvements in human welfare are achievable by 2050 with focused health investment. Countries at all income levels could cut in half the probability of premature death—defined as dying before the age of 70—compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

This ambitious "50 by 50" goal is achievable through focused investments, targeted interventions, and the global commitment to the spirit of UHC; that all people should have access to the quality health services they need.

The report offers a useful and compelling reminder to low and middle-income countries: you don’t need a fully funded or perfectly functioning health system to start making a significant difference. Governments, development partners, and implementers – with the support of civil society and the private sector – can deliver measurable results by prioritising the most impactful interventions while building stronger systems over time.

A Vision Rooted in Action

Let me highlight four key messages for achieving the "50 by 50" goal that resonate deeply with Palladium’s mission of creating positive impact:

1. Early health gains: Significant reductions in mortality and morbidity are attainable early in the path to universal health coverage, without waiting for a perfect health system.

2. UHC agenda reset: This strategy empowers decision-makers to focus resources on interventions with the greatest impact. It identifies 19 cost-effective health-benefit packages that allow countries to streamline health system strengthening based on country context and need.

3. Pandemic preparedness: The likelihood and high risk of future pandemics demands proactive investment in health security and resilience. The COVID-19 pandemic showed us the cost of being unprepared; now is the time to act decisively.

4. Development assistance: Continued external support is essential, particularly for resource-poor countries. Investments in global public goods will benefit all nations.

Why this Matters

The report’s call for integrated approaches aligns well with much of our project work around the world. We see this in our innovative approaches to policy, finance, advocacy and governance, data and information systems, and at the intersection of public and private sectors to strengthen health systems and address complex challenges.

Through global USAID-funded mechanisms such as PROPEL Health, Data.Fi, and CATALYZE, we’ve helped expand access to lifesaving services in underserved communities, especially in the areas of reproductive and maternal, newborn, and child health.

Our local partnerships in combating infectious diseases like HIV and preventing pandemics have driven innovation, scaling prevention, testing, and treatment efforts that directly address the report’s priority conditions.

A Blueprint for Change

The Global Health 2050 report has handed us a blueprint—clear, actionable, and rooted in evidence. It emphasises that progress doesn’t depend on waiting for perfect systems but on seizing opportunities to act now.

It resonates with our approach across many programs around the world to partnering with donor agencies and leveraging our global and local partnerships and expertise to implement modular strategies that deliver results. For example, by concentrating on health security, and leveraging our expertise in data management systems, sustainable financing, and private sector engagement, we contribute towards universal health coverage and to the proactive resilience called for in the Global Health 2050 report.

Challenges and Opportunities

Achieving the "50 by 50" goal will not be without its challenges.

Funding is insufficient, governments are unstable, accountability is week, and governance is poor. Achieving the goal needs proper sustained investment and collaboration.

Pandemic preparedness, in particular, demands a level of urgency and foresight that is often difficult to sustain in the absence of immediate crises.

Yet, these challenges also represent opportunities for innovation. The Lancet Report’s modular approach based in cost effective benefit packages offers a way to act strategically, addressing urgent needs while building the capacity for broader systemic improvements.

Back to Universal Health Coverage

As we celebrate UHC Day, the Lancet report underscores how universal health coverage provides both the means and the end. UHC is the framework through which equity and access become tangible, and the "50 by 50" target offers a powerful metric for measuring progress.

UHC Day reminds us that health for all isn’t just an aspiration—it’s a commitment. The Lancet report shows us how to make that commitment real: through focused investments, collaborative action, and an unwavering focus on equity and inclusion.