The imperative for health promotion in universal health coverage

Two Major Arms of the Health System

^a Health promotion activities are considered public goods: goods that are available for the benefit of all, and where the use by one individual does not reduce availability to others. In contrast, with clinical care, the supply is limited by available resources, and provision to one person reduces the quantity available to others. Since public goods are available to all and it is difficult to charge or exclude users, they are undersupplied by private markets, making it essential for governments, or the public sector, to promote health and prevent illness. World Bank. Annual review of development effectiveness 2008: shared global challenges. Washington (DC): World Bank; 2008.