21 September 2022

Excellencies, Dear Friends of Universal Health Care,

• Health, as we are so proud to say, is not a luxurybut a human right.

• Yet at least half of the people around the world are not able to get the health services they need.

• And even many who can access doctors and medicine, do so at a very high cost. About 100 million people are pushed into even deeper poverty each year because of out-of-pocket spending on health.

• The COVID19 pandemic drew our attention to the appalling inequality between the poor and the rich, the developing and the developed world, in enjoying basic health services.

• We have known about this divide yet failed to understand the real magnitude of the problem. But, as Nobel laureate Hungarian scientist Albert Szent-Györgyi had pointed out, the real task is “to see what everybody else has seen and think what nobody else has thought”.

• From now on, we must think differently. For those in need, we must ensure access to the health services, whenever and wherever necessary and without financial hardship.

• Sufficient funds must be invested in our health system. Increasing government allocations are needed for financing the Primary Health Coverage, which should be more equitable and efficient.

• In this process, we must prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable, including women and children.

• In 2023, we have to take stock of our achievements and make definite new commitments to accelerate progress in this field.

• My goal is to ensure synergy between the High-Level Meetings on health planned for 2023, and the forthcoming SDG Summit. A holistic view on health is essential for the success of the 2030 Agenda.

• I will also strive to align these discussions with the message of the landmark political declaration that was adopted by consensus in 2019.  

• I plan to appoint co-facilitators for the political declaration on UHC in October so that we can start with the process right away.

• I call on member states to engage constructively in the process, and to show commitment through actions.

• I welcome the initiative by the Group of Friends of Universal Health Care to informally support the high-level meeting process as a platform for discussion.

• I was pleased to learn that, in cooperation with WHO, the Group will organize thematic discussions leading up to the HLM.

Dear Friends,

• Let’s go ahead with our many tasks.

• Because Thomas Carlyle was right when he said: “He who has health has hope, and he who has hope, has everything.”

Thank you.