On December 12, 2017, the UN designated the date as International Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day through resolution 72/138. The date carries special significance, marking the anniversary of the General Assembly's unanimous 2012 resolution urging countries to accelerate progress toward universal health coverage—a milestone the UHC Coalition had already been marking annually since 2014, before the UN formally adopted the observance. Universal health coverage means that all people and communities can access the health services they need—from prevention and treatment to rehabilitation and palliative care—of sufficient quality, without suffering financial hardship. Despite progress, billions of people worldwide still lack adequate health coverage or face catastrophic health expenses that push them into poverty. The day is marked with advocacy campaigns urging governments to invest in primary health systems, discussions on equitable health financing policies, and initiatives that share the stories of people whose lives have been shaped by the presence—or absence—of health coverage.