By Judy Stenmark, Director General, Global Self-Care Federation
Although the discourse and awareness of self-care has increased recently, the idea of self-care is not a new one. And now, more so than at any point in the past, we have the knowledge and information to support its direct inclusion into healthcare. We know that embedding self-care practices into health systems improves health and quality of life while simultaneously supporting health systems’ sustainability.
This year’s UHC day theme is “Build the World we Want: A Healthy Future for All.” We at the Global Self-Care Federation (GSCF) see that self-care is indispensable to achieving UHC. That’s why, alongside a coalition of partners, we are calling for a World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution on self-care.
Self-care refers to the holistic activities, practices, and products—both medicinal, devices, and nutritive—that a person can adopt to improve their health and well-being. In particular, self-care involves:
For us, ensuring a healthy future for all is centered around affordable, accessible, and quality health services. This unlocks people’s potential. Self-care is a critical component for this and will be a necessary building block for the healthcare systems of the future.
For this to come to pass, it is time to reconfigure how we see self-care. We need to strengthen overall health systems. The sharp focus of the World Health Organization on universal health coverage (UHC) provides this opportunity.
The strength of self-care as a legitimate healthcare tool needs to be brought into the spotlight. Health systems are under duress – from populations being unable to access basic healthcare needs, to pursuit of efficiency in overstretched health systems due to the rise of chronic conditions, and the wider impact of the pandemic. There is a need for something new and self-care is the right piece for the puzzle.
We know that there are now more proven self-care products and practices available to populations today than ever before. Enabling the correct policy frameworks that embed self-care seamlessly into the care continuum unlocks global health systems. A WHA resolution on self-care will help foster the necessary momentum and provide the framework to fully integrate it into health systems for the benefit of individuals and society.
A potential resolution should seek to include some of following key elements:
Alongside the key elements above, the resolution would call on Member States, considering their national circumstances, to:
Self-care offers a promising path forward for achieving UHC and ensuring health and well-being for all. We need to build sustainable, long-lasting, health systems. Self-care represents a viable solution – not only to promote health, but also provide options to vulnerable populations in need.
A healthy future for all is critical and can’t happen without self-care’s inclusion into the care continuum.
From ministries of health to regulatory bodies and purchasers, we partner with private and public sector players to provide seamless health services to consumers – no matter their entry point to care.
Across 40+ countries, we scale digital solutions that make it easier for people to take ownership of their own health, and health systems to use resources efficiently and increase health impact.
We support health systems in shaping the policy and regulatory environment for self-care interventions and ensuring self-care is included as an essential part of healthcare services.