Countries and development partners on Tuesday reported further progress toward the World Bank Group’s target of helping deliver affordable, quality health care to 1.5 billion people by 2030, a goal first announced in April 2024.
Fifteen countries have now adopted National Health Compacts five-year, country-led plans that set out practical reforms to expand primary health care, improve affordability and stimulate job-rich growth in the health sector.
According to the World Bank Group, 375 million people have already gained access to quality, affordable services since the initiative was launched. The Bank and its partners are currently working with about 45 countries to scale up proven primary-care models that boost health outcomes and create employment across health workforces, supply chains and related industries.
The update comes as governments face mounting pressures from aging populations, rising chronic illness and tighter fiscal space. The 2025 Global Monitoring Report released at the Tokyo Universal Health Coverage High-Level Forum shows that 4.6 billion people worldwide lack essential health services, while 2.1 billion experience financial hardship due to health costs.
“Strong primary health systems do more than safeguard health they support jobs and economic opportunity,” World Bank Group President Ajay Banga said. “Countries are stepping forward with clear priorities, and we are working alongside them to deliver practical solutions at scale.”
Country-driven roadmaps
The 15 National Health Compacts presented in Tokyo were endorsed at the highest levels of government. Each compact aligns health and finance ministries around measurable targets and guides external support toward nationally defined priorities.
Key reforms include expanding primary-care coverage and quality, boosting financial protection, strengthening health-sector workers and deploying digital tools to improve service delivery. Many countries have committed to mobilising new funding, expanding insurance coverage, modernising facilities and digitally enabling health workforces.
