WHA77 - Item 11.1 Universal Health Coverage AND Item 11.2 - Follow-up to the political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases

European Union Statement 

WHO

77^th World Health Assembly (27 May - 1 June 2024)

Item 11.1 Universal Health Coverage

AND

Item 11.2 - Follow-up to the political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases

Geneva, 29 May 2024

Chair,

Director General,

Excellencies,

Colleagues,

I am delivering this statement on behalf of the EU and its 27 Member States.

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina[*] align themselves with this statement.

I will highlight some of our points on both UHC and NCD. Please find two full statements uploaded.

UHC is fundamental for the realization of the human right to health and must be prioritized with two core aspects:

1. improving access to quality health services and leaving no one behind to advance health outcomes and reduce health inequalities,
2. providing financial protection to populations to reduce financial hardship, especially for those with lower income.

The development of PHC has proven to be the best vehicle for a quicker, more comprehensive, effective and equitable achievement of UHC. Improving PHC also requires increased sustainable investment in education, training, and remuneration of health workforce.

Health systems and services need to be inclusive, integrated and people centred, since equity of access and participation at all levels of care are central to UHC. Strengthening community-oriented primary care, primary healthcare integration, social prescribing and public health services to reach people that are not effectively covered in the regular system is critical for improving health and uptake of health services and health outcomes.

In pursuit of health equity, we consider it critical to not only acknowledge that gender-specific barriers to good health exist, but to actually address these barriers head-on. Hence, a gender-responsive approach needs to be applied when developing and implementing UHC-related policies and plans. Only then, can we achieve the SDG’s promise to reach those who are the furthest behind first, including women, girls and persons in vulnerable and marginalized situations. We refer here to our EoP on persons in vulnerable situations.

The EU remains committed to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of all human rights and to the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the outcomes of their review conferences and remains committed to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in this context. The EU further stresses the need for universal access to quality and affordable comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information, education, including comprehensive sexuality education, and health-care services. These are fundamental aspects of UHC. 

Let me now turn to NCD’s

NCDs, including mental health illness is a major disease burden globally, including among persons living in the EU. We support the work of WHO in the prevention and control hereof, as well as for the promotion of healthy environments and lifestyle.

As well as being a vehicle for advancement in UHC, a strong and accessible primary health care sector is also key to accommodate the healthcare needs of the rising number of people living with mental illness and NCDs including the growing challenges arising from co-morbidity, ageing populations and climate change.

Finally, equitable and affordable access to essential health services, especially for persons in vulnerable and marginalized situations is necessary. Furthermore, mental health has a bi-directional relationship with risk factors for NCDs.

We call for an increased focus on, and investment in research and new innovative approaches for prevention and structural health promotion, especially in the primary health care setting. The economic, commercial, social and environmental root causes of NCDs and mental health conditions should be addressed through a “health in all policies” and whole of society approach.

Thank you.

[*] North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.