Katelyn Jison Yoo

As countries strive to make universal health coverage (UHC) more than just a constitutional promise or aspirational goal, the core challenge persists: How can health systems be designed, financed, and governed to deliver equitable, efficient, and resilient care? The World Bank has set a target of enabling 1.5 billion people to access UHC, recognizing that knowledge exchange is critical to achieving this ambition.

Katelyn J. Yoo is a Health Economist with the Health, Nutrition, and Population Global Practice at the World Bank. Her expertise encompasses economics/ econometrics, impact evaluations, and financing, particularly in the domains of public health, sustainability, and poverty alleviation.

Critical care consumes a substantial proportion of a country’s health care expenditure. This was especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic and increasingly true as populations age and struggle with chronic conditions. Current literature reports average costs of intensive care unit (ICU) care are between approximately $2,200 and $6,000 per day (adjusted to 2023 prices).