The Universal Health Coverage (UHC), often described as the “great equalizer,” may be failing people aged 60 and above, a health expert has warned.
Dr Chukwuma Anyaike, a Director of Public Health at the Federal Ministry of Health, gave the warning in an interview with reporters on Monday in Abuja.
Anyaike said older adults continue to face financial hardship and inadequate care despite the promise of UHC.
According to him, global health systems largely prioritize infectious diseases, maternal health and child care, leaving the rapidly growing elderly population underserved.
“By 2050, one in six people worldwide will be over 60, yet health systems remain ill-prepared to meet their needs,” he said.
Anyaike noted that out-of-pocket expenses for long-term care, chronic medications and assistive devices could impoverish older adults and their families, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where pension coverage is limited.
He also highlighted the shortage of healthcare workers trained in geriatrics and the prevalence of ageism, which often leads to older people’s health concerns being dismissed as “just part of getting old.”
The director called for the expansion of UHC to include functional support services, subsidized assistive technologies and the adoption of the World Health Organizations Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) framework.
“Without these changes, UHC risks becoming a hollow victory — a system that covers everyone in theory but protects no one in their later years,” he said.
NAN reports that UHC means everyone can access the health services they need, including treatment, medications and preventive care, without suffering financial hardship.
The goal of UHC is to make healthcare a right for all, not a privilege, while protecting people from being pushed into poverty by medical costs.
However, Anyaike warned that for older adults, UHC often falls short, leaving them vulnerable to high care costs and neglect.
