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G7 Global Plan for UHC Action Agenda

May 14, 2023
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(Background)

In order for the international community to accelerate collective action towards the realization of universal health coverage (UHC) and mobilize political will towards the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting (HLM) on UHC, UHC 2030, a multi-stakeholder partnership whose secretariat is hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Bank, launched its flagship "UHC Action Agenda" at the end of March 2023. We, the G7 Health Ministers in collaboration with relevant sectors and stakeholders within their respective mandates, aim to undertake robust and concrete steps in line with the eight action areas stipulated in the "UHC Action Agenda" through the "G7 Global Plan for UHC Action Agenda". This plan is designed to facilitate priority actions that the G7 members aim to employ and complement the "UHC Action Agenda", in support of country-led efforts to implement UHC, and to maximise impact of the UNGA HLM on UHC and beyond to achieve UHC worldwide.

(Structure)

The "G7 Global Plan for UHC Action Agenda" contains an overall description and specific G7 key actions based on the "UHC Action Agenda", which was developed by UHC2030 based on extensive consultations with stakeholders and partners. Each of the following eight action areas contains (1) the Title (Action area), (2) the description of the area derived from UHC Action Agenda (i.e. why it is important), (3) an overall description or direction for G7 actions, and (4) Key G7 Actions (i.e., what the G7 should do). (1) and (2) are cited from the "UHC Action Agenda".

(Way Forward: towards the year 2030)

We, the G7 Health Ministers, will continue to work collaboratively to support international progress towards achieving UHC, building on our commitment to UHC for our own citizens in the post-COVID-19 era. In addition to the "G7 Global Plan for UHC Action Agenda" presented in this document, we note the importance of a global hub function, in support of relevant international organisations, including for financing, knowledge management, and human resources on UHC.

Collectively, collaboratively and also in line with the "Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All", we will accelerate our efforts towards the achievement of more resilient, equitable, and sustainable UHC across the globe by 2030 – the target year for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and expected to be Japan's next G7 Presidency year. In particular, we will take full advantage of the "UHC Action Agenda" and the "G7 Global Plan for UHC Action Agenda" to promote a coherent, integrated and aligned action-oriented global health agenda across the three HLMs in 2023 on UHC, pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR), and tuberculosis to maximise synergies of those meetings. Furthermore, given the current crowded space in the health sector at a global level, it is essential to strengthen synergies, coordination and coherence. In this context, we also note, without prejudging the outcome, a preliminary idea of exploring an UNGA HLM on health to comprehensively discuss all relevant health challenges in the future and to ensure synergies of existing processes with a view to avoiding fragmentation and duplication.

We, the G7 Health Ministers, in collaboration with all relevant sectors and stakeholders, renew our determination to assist the achievement of UHC by 2030 to leave no one behind, including through following up on this plan.

Action area 1: Champion political leadership for universal health coverage

"Political leaders have now experienced how important UHC is to their societies and economies, given their experiences during the pandemic and the ongoing impact of conflicts and the climate crisis." (UHC Action Agenda)

(Overall Description)

G7 Health Ministers aim to mobilise political will globally towards the achievement of more resilient, equitable, and sustainable health systems that can achieve UHC across the globe by 2030, including by demonstrating sustained determination as G7 to contribute to UHC.

(Key G7 Actions)

Action area 2: Leave no one behind

"Health is enshrined as a fundamental right of every human being, and it is the duty of governments to protect, promote and fulfil the right to health. Countries will benefit economically and socially by investing in health because UHC makes a significant contribution to reducing poverty and promoting equity and social cohesion." (UHC Action Agenda)

(Overall Description)

G7 Health Ministers reinforce the importance of understanding and addressing the needs of the people in vulnerable and marginalised situations.

(Key G7 Actions)

Action area 3: Adopt enabling laws and regulations

"Policies, laws and regulations that integrate UHC and health security and create an enabling environment for use of health technologies and innovations will strengthen future economic and social resilience." (UHC Action Agenda)

(Overall Description)

G7 Health Ministers intend to work with stakeholders to strengthen legal frameworks where necessary, to support progress towards UHC in line with country-led priorities.

(Key G7 Actions)

Action area 4: Strengthen the health and care workforce to deliver high-quality health care

"The health and care workforce is essential for ensuring healthy people, societies and economies and plays a crucial role during pandemics, conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies. In all situations, women play a prominent role, delivering most front-line essential health and care services." (UHC Action Agenda)

(Overall Description)

G7 Health Ministers intend to support countries to develop the health and care workforces needed to achieve UHC, including through development cooperation that supports the development of national workforce plans and strengthens the health and care workforce to ensure they are well-trained, supported, remunerated and equipped to deliver high-quality health services.

(Key G7 Actions)

Action area 5: Invest more, invest better

"UHC is an important foundation for healthy people, societies and economies and makes countries more resilient in health emergencies. Consistent levels of public spending on health are central to progress towards UHC. Primary health care (PHC) is a critical investment for both UHC and health security." (UHC Action Agenda)

(Overall Description)

Recognising that the path to UHC rests on national political commitment to invest the public resources required, G7 Health Ministers emphasise optimising global financial resources to complement domestic financing for UHC in alignment with national health priorities. We support an inclusive and evidence-based process to address and strengthen policy dialogues on key UHC issues, as outlined below. Domestic funding is still crucial to achieve UHC in every country. Mobilisation of additional financial resources through the use of innovative financing approaches including private sector financing, albeit with appropriate regulatory overview, is necessary to close the financing gaps in the health sector in many countries. It is also necessary to strengthen the role the private sector could play in global health including through innovative ways of financing, such as impact investments in the field of global health. We also highlight benefits of investments in health promotion and disease prevention, which reduce the costs of treatments and therefore positively affect UHC. We welcome the work of the G7 development finance institutions and other investors to ensure that private and public capital is deployed to build strong and inclusive health systems.

(Key G7 Actions)

Action area 6: Move together towards universal health coverage

"Governments cannot make progress towards universal health coverage without stakeholders that play a critical role in developing, reviewing and implementing national health policy frameworks." (UHC Action Agenda)

(Overall Description)

Building on the principle of leaving no one behind stipulated in the Action area 2, G7 Health Ministers can foster and facilitate inclusive participation of relevant stakeholders and anti-discriminatory practices in health-related decision-making and accountability mechanisms.

(Key G7 Actions)

Action area 7: Support a focus on gender equality in health

"Gender equality, including equal rights and equal access to services, is critical to achieving UHC and leaving no one behind. Gender equality in the health workforce is a necessary component for achieving UHC." (UHC Action Agenda)

(Overall Description)

G7 Health Ministers fully acknowledge the impact that gender inequality has on health, noting that ensuring gender equity in the health and care workforce is also critical to maximising the potential and advancement of protections and safeguarding.

(Key G7 Actions)

Action area 8: Connect universal health coverage and health security

"UHC and global health security are intertwined goals anchored in the health systems of every country. Leaders must act now to design and resource integrated approaches to support both UHC and PPR capacities for health emergencies within wider efforts to build equitable, resilient health systems." (UHC Action Agenda)

(Overall Description)

G7 Health Ministers consider that primary health care is the foundation of health systems, and advocate for the UNGA HLMs on UHC, pandemic PPR and TB in September 2023 to reflect and coherent and synergistic, where appropriate, particularly through a focus on strengthening health systems, including by tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and implementing a One Heath approach.

(Key G7 Actions)

Source: Official website of the G7 Health Ministers' Meeting in Nagasaki


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