When a woman in a rural village uses a home pregnancy test or a person living with diabetes monitors their own blood sugar, they're exercising a power that extends far beyond the individual: they're taking active control of their health care in ways that WHO now recognizes as essential to global well-being.
The World Health Organization defines self-care as the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote and maintain their own health, prevent disease, and cope with illness—with or without the support of a health or care worker. It's a recognition that people are not passive recipients of care but active agents in managing their own health through both lifestyle choices and evidence-based interventions. This matters urgently because approximately 4.6 billion people worldwide remain uncovered by essential health services, while 2.1 billion face financial hardship due to out-of-pocket health expenses, with 1.6 billion living in poverty as a direct result.
Self-care encompasses two critical dimensions. The first is lifestyle: eating a healthy diet, being physically active, refraining from tobacco, avoiding alcohol, getting enough sleep, and connecting with others. These foundational choices cost nothing but intention. The second dimension involves specific interventions—evidence-based tools that extend health care beyond clinical settings. These include diagnostics like HIV screening tests and pregnancy self-tests, devices for monitoring conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, and over-the-counter medicines like emergency contraception and paracetamol. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated this vividly: mask-wearing and self-test kits became critical self-care interventions that governments prioritized to prevent infection and disease.
But self-care is not one-size-fits-all. Some people possess sufficient knowledge and confidence to use interventions independently from the start—a woman purchasing an over-the-counter pain reliever, for instance. Others need guidance and support. Teaching someone to self-administer injectable contraception or providing follow-up care after a positive HIV test requires trained health and care workers to ensure safety and efficacy. This is why self-care complements rather than replaces the health system and the professionals who staff it.
Underserved and marginalized populations benefit most from effective self-care strategies, yet face the greatest barriers. They often lack access to quality health information, safe products, and the supportive environment necessary to use interventions correctly. One of the most pressing challenges is ensuring that safe and effective products reach those who need them without adding financial burden—particularly in communities where unregulated or substandard products circulate. Misinformation, absent guidance from health workers, and no recourse for managing side effects create real dangers.
WHO's framework for self-care is anchored in human rights, ethics, inclusivity and gender equality, and recognizes that an enabling environment requires action across multiple sectors: education, justice, social services, and health. Most self-care happens outside formal health facilities, so success depends on systemic support that extends well beyond hospitals and clinics. Digital platforms and technologies can amplify reach, while integrating self-care into the training of health and care workers ensures people get the guidance they need.
Self-care represents a profound shift in thinking about health—from something delivered to people, to something people actively shape themselves.