On 23 September 2019 a high-level meeting on universal health coverage will be held at the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting, ‘Universal Health Coverage: Moving Together to Build a Healthier World’, will bring together heads of state, political and health leaders, policy-makers, and universal health coverage champions to advocate for health for all.
Universal health coverage means all people have access to the health care they need, when and where they need it, without facing financial hardship. With a strong foundation of primary health care, universal health coverage is one of WHO’s key priorities, making up one of the Triple Billion Goals. WHO is working with Member States, partners and other key actors to help countries strengthen health systems for universal health coverage around the world.
The meeting will aim to garner financial and political commitments from countries and sustain health investments. It will focus on accelerating progress towards universal health coverage, including access to essential health services, including skilled health workforce, financial risk protection and access to safe, quality, effective and affordable medicines and vaccines for all. The meeting will result in a political declaration on universal health coverage, negotiated by Member States and endorsed by Heads of State.
The meeting was called for in December 2017 when the UN passed a resolution on global health and foreign policy, addressing the health of the most vulnerable for an inclusive society. It will be organized under the direction of the President of the UN General Assembly (PGA), in close consultation with the World Health Organization.
H.E. UN H.E. Mr. Kaha Imnadze , Permanent Representative of Georgia to the UN and H.E. Mr. Vitavas Srivihok, Permanent Representative of Thailand to the UN, have been selected as the meeting co-facilitators. They have a critical role in the meeting preparations and will chair key discussions and negotiations.