Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 77th session of the General Assembly
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Multi-stakeholder hearing in preparation of the GA high-level meeting on Universal Health Coverage
(As delivered)
Madam Deputy Secretary-General,
Madam Moderator,
Assistant Director General,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to this landmark hearing on Universal Health Coverage.
We are here to discuss one of the most pressing issues of our time.
In 2019, world leaders gathered in this very room to endorse an ambitious Political Declaration which reaffirmed their commitment to achieve UHC by 2030.
Universal Health Coverage means that everyone, without discrimination, can access the health services they need without fear of financial ruin.
The UHC concept places special emphasis on women, children, those in need and the most vulnerable.
Thus, UHC is not only about health, but about social inclusion, gender equality, poverty eradication, and the protection of human dignity.
Martin Luther King once said that “of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhumane.”
The right to health is a fundamental human right.
Yet, billions in the world still lack a reliable access to basic and essential health services.
Meanwhile, health expenses push tens of millions of people into bankruptcy or heavy indebtedness every year.
Today’s meeting comes at a very special moment.
Just a few months after the Declaration was adopted, the most extreme health crisis in recent history broke out — the COVID-19 pandemic.
It unveiled the vast disparities in access to healthcare — and its effects also visibly deepened inequalities.
Now it is official that we have the global pandemic behind us.
But we should always draw lessons from complex crises like the one caused by COVID-19.
The devastation brought about by the pandemic serves as a stern reminder that when health is at risk, everything is at risk.
When anybody is at risk, everybody is at risk.
That providing health is not a money pit but a smart long-term investment in sustainable development.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The achievement of SDG 3 is indivisible from the rest of the 2030 Agenda.
The pursuit of UHC for all truly encapsulates the interconnectedness of every challenge we face and every solution we have to them.
When it comes to our goals, we are far off-track.
If we want to achieve our targets in time, we have to change gear — but we also have to change the whole game.
As a part of that, we should give UHC its full due.
We must recognize that it is not just a political commitment but also a tool for socio-economic prosperity and the reduction of inequalities.
And we should keep in mind that, ultimately, the aim of Universal Health Coverage is to leave no one behind.
Dear Friends,
We live in crisis times.
To tackle the many challenges we face, we have to mobilize all of our capabilities.
We cannot rely only on what governments know and wish to do.
We need each and every stakeholder on board.
We need all of you on board.
That is why we turned to you.
That is why we asked you to bring here all your expertise, all your experience, ideas and suggestions.
Put simply, we need your wisdom and commitment.
Soon, the floor will be yours.
Together with the representatives of the Member States, I am eager to listen to your views on how we can have a world where health is not a privilege anymore.
Thank you very much.
