This briefing highlights key insights from a recent ODI event, 'Towards universal health systems: leaving no one behind’, which provided an opportunity for a wide-ranging discussion on how Covid-19 is affecting healthcare systems worldwide, and the potential it offers for building better health systems. Combing research on how universal health systems have developed, it is organised under three themes: (1) how Covid-19 is exposing the fragility of health systems; (2) the potential the crisis offers for expanding universal health coverage (UHC); and (3) how best to capitalise upon this potential.

This publication is part of ODI’s series on coronavirus. It showcases emerging ideas and rapid initial analysis from ODI experts.

Emma Samman