Social Participation

Social participation relates to the empowerment of people, communities, and civil society to participate in – and thereby influence – decision-making processes for health. It is the cornerstone of equitable, inclusive, transparent, and responsive health systems that leave no one behind. This inclusive approach not only promotes healthier behaviors and practices but also fosters community resilience, reduces health inequalities, and builds trust in healthcare systems.

Background

Since the launch of the “Voice, agency, empowerment – handbook on social participation for universal health coverage” in 2021, there has been a noticeable increase in political commitment among Member States to promote social participation in health decision-making. This commitment extends to regional levels, seen in references to social participation in WHO Regional Committee Meetings and resolutions, and through initiatives like the European Youth4Health Network established by WHO Europe. There have been parallel efforts to improve the engagement of civil society and youth in the workings of WHO through the WHO Youth Council and the Civil Society Commission.

During a dialogue on social participation and accountability in 2021, Dr. Tedros highlighted the importance of social participation in promoting health for all:

“As we build forward better and prepare for future emergencies, we need to empower community ownership, enhance participatory governance, rebuild trust in public health, and strengthen global solidarity. This is true not only for emergencies but in every area of health, and especially in making progress towards universal health coverage.”

At the 76th WHA side event in May 2023, several Member States announced their intention to pursue a resolution on institutionalizing social participation at the WHA in 2024. A series of multi-stakeholder consultations were held to inform a Technical Paper, which summarizes priority actions for Member States as they seek to institutionalize social participation for health.

Social participation was also included in the 2023 Political Declaration on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in which world leaders renewed their commitment to accelerate progress towards achieving UHC and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The governments of Thailand and Slovenia – in collaboration with Brazil, France, Norway and Tunisia – then started pursuing a resolution for WHA77 on Social participation for universal health coverage, health and well-being. Learn more with the Advocacy Brief.

WHA Resolution on social participation

At the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly, Member States endorsed the resolution on Social participation for universal health coverage, health and well-being to implement, strengthen and sustain regular and meaningful participation of civil society and communities in decision-making processes for health. This resolution recognizes the importance of regular and meaningful social participation to ensure the accountability and legitimacy of health systems strengthening and universal health coverage efforts anchored in a primary health care approach.

In adopting it, Member States have committed to:

• Strengthening public sector capacities for the design and implementation of meaningful social participation;
• Enabling equitable, diverse and inclusive participation, with a particular focus on promoting the voices of those in vulnerable and/or marginalized situations;
• Ensuring that social participation influences transparent decision-making for health across the policy cycle, at all levels of the system;
• Implementing and sustaining regular and transparent social participation using a range of mechanisms supported by public policy and legislation;
• Allocating adequate and sustainable public sector resources in support of effective social participation;
• Facilitating capacity strengthening for civil society to enable diverse, equitable, transparent and inclusive social participation; and
• Supporting related research, and piloting projects/programmes and their monitoring and evaluation to promote the implementation of social participation.

Let’s all use the resolution on social participation for universal health coverage, health and well-being – and the political momentum stemming from its adoption – to push for immediate action and accountability, so that everyone’s voice is heard and we can truly ensure “nothing about us, without us”.

Read the official announcement of the adoption of the resolution made by the WHO here and the statement from UHC2030 co-chairs here.