Pakistan civil society organizations (CSOs) held an advocacy meeting on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to prepare for the upcoming UN High-Level Meeting on UHC. The meeting provided an overview of the challenges Pakistan faces in health system strengthening, UHC and primary health care policies and how to tackle them from a Civil Society Organization (CSO) perspective. Participants included civil society representatives, the Pakistan Red Crescent, the International Federation of the Red Cross, HelpAge International, UNAIDS, and the Ministry of Health.
The meeting also aimed to better understand the dynamics at the national level around UHC and identify advocacy and accountability topics for CSOs, and community-based organizations (CBOs). Finally, participants worked on developing the role of CSOs and CBOs in the CSEM and ensuring their vision and recommendations towards UHC are taken into consideration at the HLM in September 2019.
The following are their identified priorities:
- Selected Representation is required from CSO and the government for policy reforms. Participants agreed with the key asks and actions and agreed on the full participation of CSO and representation in policymaking around UHC2030 through selective representation.
- Public-Private Partnership: The private sector should be explored more to engage more CSOs in UHC2030 achievement through improved service delivery.
- Health Budget Repositioning: It was mutually agreed that budget allocations should be done through repositioning for the institutionalization of UHC reforms 2030.
- Multi-sectoral Programs Mechanism and Integrated Approach: Participants highlighted a mechanism to conduct dialogue around multi-sectoral programs. An integrated approach should be adopted for the health care delivery system.
- Prioritization of Health Systems Strengthening: The health systems strengthening objective should be prioritized to improve the accessibility of people living in hard-to-reach areas.
- Financial Protection Package: This system should identify the poor and deliver services with dignity at their doorstep.
