I have spoken in this Assembly a few times now, and every time I come here I feel the nostalgia, as a former Member of Parliament myself. So I’m glad to join you, and proud also to be one of you before.
Honourable Speaker of the Assembly of Serbia,
Honourable President of the IPU,
Excellency, Secretary-General of the IPU,
Honourable members of the Assembly,
Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,
I am truly delighted to be here to witness the adoption of this resolution. It’s a wonderful moment.
I have said consistently that health is a political choice. It’s a choice you are making today.
And it’s a choice that world leaders made when they endorsed the political declaration on universal health coverage at the United Nations General Assembly last month.
That declaration represents a historic moment in global health. For the first time, the world has unified around a common vision of a world in which all people can access the health services they need, without suffering financial hardship.
You have a crucial role to play in translating that political commitment into real results in the lives of people.
But our latest data shows we have a lot of work to do.
On current trends, up to 5 billion people will lack access to essential health services by 2030 – unless we act now.
Even when those services are available, using them can spell financial disaster. Every year, 930 million people are exposed to catastrophic health spending.
These gaps not only imperil the health of billions of people, they also make our world less secure, and less prosperous.
Weak health systems are fertile ground for the spread of infectious diseases. An outbreak in one country can quickly become a global pandemic, unless it is stopped early.
The lack of access to affordable, quality health care is also a brake on economic growth.
It keeps people trapped in the cycle of poverty, saps productivity and drains hope.
Universal health coverage is therefore not just a moral imperative, it’s a security imperative, and an economic imperative.
The world spends 7.5 trillion U.S. dollars on health each year – almost 10 percent of global GDP.
As parliamentarians, you are stewards of these investments. You have a responsibility to ensure your nations are getting value for money.
The resolution you have adopted today is a strong tool for doing just that.
It is an extremely comprehensive resolution. It addresses all of the major health challenges countries face, from communicable diseases that have afflicted humans for millennia, to the increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases, and the modern threat of antimicrobial resistance.
At its heart is the conviction that health is a human right, not a privilege.
We appreciate the strong emphasis the resolution places on equity, and ensuring essential services for women, children, adolescents and other vulnerable groups, including for sexual and reproductive health.
The emphasis on primary health care is also very important. All countries must shift from a focus on managing diseases to preventing diseases and promoting health.
Importantly, the resolution calls on parliaments to play a leading role in implementing the International Heath Regulations to prevent, detect and respond to emergencies.
This is a vital role in keeping the world safe.
The adoption of this resolution is the end of one period of work. But it is just the beginning of the real work.
As you move forward with the implementation of this resolution, we seek your continued support in four key ways.
First, legislate for UHC.
Universal health coverage can only truly be achieved when countries establish a legal mandate for universal access to health services, and financial protection.
About 75 countries have enacted legislation for UHC – Egypt and the Philippines are two recent examples. WHO stands ready to support any country that wants to follow their example.
Second, invest in UHC.
Parliaments make UHC financially possible. You provide access to the financial resources for universal health coverage, allocating funds to expand access to health services and products.
Investments in primary health care are especially important, to promote health and prevent disease.
Public financing is especially important. Although the private sector plays an important role in providing health services, domestic public financing is the bedrock of universal health coverage. No country has ever achieved UHC by relying mainly on voluntary, private funding.
WHO is calling on all countries to increase their investment in primary health care by 1% of GDP, either through new investments, reallocation, or both.
Third, enable UHC.
Achieving universal health coverage is not a job for Ministries of Health alone. Many of the determinants of health lie outside the remit of the health ministry, in the air people breathe, the food they eat, the water they drink and the conditions in which they live and play.
By creating a platform for multisectoral cooperation, you can bring different stakeholders together to create the conditions in which health can flourish.
And fourth, ensure accountability for UHC.
By building effective and transparent institutions, and fostering meaningful dialogue with civil society, you help to ensure that political commitments don’t become empty promises.
Legislate. Invest. Enable. And ensure accountability for UHC, is what I’m asking you to do after the adoption of this resolution.
Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,
Thank you once again for your support.
I would particularly like to thank the chair, Ms Gerkens, and the three rapporteurs, Professor Millat from Bangladesh, who has played a pivotal role in the development of this resolution, as well as Mr Lohr from Switzerland and Ms Carvalho from Brazil, for their leadership.
The adoption of this resolution is the result of many months of hard work.
It began with a meeting between myself and my brother Martin last year, in which we agreed to work together to harness the power of parliaments to promote health.
That initial agreement became formalized in a memorandum of understanding between WHO and IPU, in which we agreed to work on three specific issues: universal health coverage; health security; and promoting health, especially for vulnerable groups, including women, children and adolescents.
Yesterday I met with the President of IPU, Honourable Gabriela Barron, and with Honourable Katuta, the new Chair of the Health Advisory Group, and also with my brother Secretary-General Martin, and we have agreed to do the work plan, prepare a framework and move into implementation.
WHO remains committed to working with all countries to make the right to health not just a vision, not just a resolution, but a daily reality for everyone, everywhere.
I thank you. Hvala.
