Ensuring sustainability is a permanent challenge to guarantee functional and comprehensive social protection and health systems. Recommendation No. 202 underlines the need to give due consideration to the principle of equity when considering the financial architecture of the system. Whether financed through social security contributions, taxes or both, ILO standards promote collectively financed mechanisms to cover the costs of health care and sickness benefits. They generate positive redistributive effects and transfer the financial and labour market risks from individuals to society.