The Geography of Universal Health Coverage: Why geographic information systems are needed to ensure equitable access to quality health care

Abstract

To narrow the gap between availability of coverage and effective coverage, it is necessary to understand the social, economic, demographic, and geographic composition of the target population, and that portion of it for whom quality interventions have to be effective. This requires disaggregated and spatially distributed data, not only for the target population and the concerned points of service delivery, but also for the topography that clients have to cross in order to access services. In many parts of Asia and the Pacific, there is adequate national level data on health service provision, but this often belies significant subnational disparities in service access by particular groups or in specific geographical areas. Moreover, available data often only capture health services provided by the public sector