What can vouchers do for Universal Health Coverage?

A health voucher gives its recipient the right to access a clearly defined health service (or health services package) at quality-assured health facilities for free. That same voucher then enables the health provider to claim payment for the services they provided to the voucher-holding client. Vouchers are the only health financing tool that subsidises demand while also channelling investment to the supply side. 2-for-1! Now there‟s vouchers for you!

Far from being a distraction from Universal Health Coverage (UHC), this policy brief shows that vouchers further the core principles of UHC, while also having the ability to solve common problems experienced by even the most well – established UHC systems.