Mr President, Mr Secretary-General,
Heads of state and heads of government,
Excellencies, distinguished guests, colleagues and friends,
In the past year, I have visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo several times to review progress against the Ebola outbreak.
But frankly, when I go there I am embarrassed to talk only about Ebola.
The community asks, why we’re only focusing on Ebola?
Measles has killed more people than Ebola this year. Malaria kills more people every single year.
Ebola is just a symptom of a much more severe crisis – the lack of access to quality, affordable health services.
During his recent visit, the Secretary-General also witnessed the same thing, and expressed his solidarity not only to address Ebola but to strengthen the health system.
But this is not a problem only in low-income countries.
A few years ago, a friend of mine in a high-income country was diagnosed with cancer.
He had two options. He could have been treated, but it would have cost him most or all of the money he had put aside for his family’s future.
Or he could forego treatment, allow the disease to run its course and die knowing his family would have a more comfortable life, even if he was not there to enjoy it with them.
He chose the latter. He chose death rather than disadvantage his family.
No one should ever have to make a choice like that.
And yet that is the reality for millions of people, every day.
Unless we change course, up to 5 billion people will still lack access to essential health services in 2030.
Even when those services are available, using them can spell financial disaster.
The human toll of this injustice is appalling enough.
But the lack of access to affordable, quality health care is also a brake on economic growth.
It keeps people bogged down in poverty, saps productivity and drains hope.
Universal health coverage is therefore not just a moral imperative, it’s an economic imperative.
As it is, the world spends 7.5 trillion U.S. dollars on health each year – almost 10 percent of global GDP.
We need to ask ourselves: are we getting value for money?
We believe the answer is: no.
Too many countries spend too much of their health budget on managing diseases in hospitals – where the costs are higher and the outcomes are often worse – instead of promoting health and preventing disease at the primary health care level.
We must make a crucial shift – to focus on protecting health, rather than only treating disease.
More than 80% of all health needs can be addressed with quality, people-centred, primary health care services.
Today, we are asking all countries to increase their investment in quality primary health care by at least 1% of GDP – either by increasing or reallocating health spending – or both.
WHO estimates these investments would save about 60 million lives every year, and extend global life expectancy by 3.7 years by 2030.
The biggest benefits would be for those who have been left furthest behind, especially women and children.
The poorest countries will continue to need targeted international donor assistance to strengthen primary health care.
But for most countries, these investments can be made with domestic resources.
They are investments that would pay a rich dividend, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Ultimately, health is a political choice – a choice that you have the power to make.
WHO is committed to supporting every country to make the transition to a health system based on strong primary health care.
Dear colleagues and friends,
The declaration you have endorsed today is a powerful statement of the world we want, as the Secretary-General indicated:
A world in which health is not a cost, but an investment.
A world in which health propels sustainable development.
A world in which all of us enjoy the health we deserve.
Our vision is not health for some.
It’s not health for most.
It’s health for ALL: poor and rich, able and disabled, old and young, urban and rural, citizen and refugee.
Everyone, everywhere. Because health is an end in itself, a fundamental human right and a means to prosperity.
I thank you.