The 2023 United Nations High-Level Meeting (UN HLM) on universal health coverage (UHC) provided countries and all stakeholders an opportunity to reinvigorate progress towards delivering health for all.
The United Nations Member States approved the Political Declaration on UHC on September 21, 2023, and it was subsequently adopted by the UN General Assembly on October 5, 2023.
The CSEM welcomes the adoption of the 2023 Political Declaration titled “Universal health coverage: expanding our ambition for health and well-being in a post-COVID world,” which recommits Member States to make health for all a reality by 2030. Overall the Political Declaration reflects many of the recommendations from across the eight areas of the Action Agenda and strengthens the commitments made in the 2019 Political Declaration in a number of areas. For a high-level summary of the detailed analysis of the 2023 Political Declaration on UHC, download the civil society briefing note here.
Find below more information on the process that led to the adoption of this key resolution.
The Action Agenda from the UHC Movement
The Action Agenda from the UHC movement is a set of action-oriented policy recommendations that country leaders should implement to strengthen resilient and equitable health systems, advance universal health coverage and health security, and deliver health for all by 2030. The UHC Action Agenda was developed by an inclusive, multi-stakeholder Task Force, which brings together twenty representatives from UHC2030 constituencies and beyond. It was informed by a public consultation which gathered 830 responses from over 100 countries. It was endorsed by the UHC2030 Steering Committee. Learn more.
Toward the High-level Meeting on UHC
The President of the UN General Assembly hosted an interactive multi-stakeholder hearing on UHC on May 9, 2023. The summary report from the hearing constitutes an official input for the drafting the Political Declaration on UHC. Intergovernmental negotiations on the Political Declaration on UHC started shortly after the hearing and should close by the end of August 2023.
Learn more on UHC civil society engagement throughout the process here.
Civil society engagement at the Multistakeholder Hearing on UHC
On May 9, 2023, the President of the General Assembly (PGA) held an interactive multistakeholder hearing in preparation of the High-Level Meeting on UHC. The hearing was attended by Member States, as well as representatives from civil society, non-governmental organizations, academia and the private sector, among other stakeholders.
CSEM Advisory Group members –Dumi Gatsha, Founder Success Capital Organization) and Nupur Lalvani, Founder Director Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation – spoke in two interactive panel discussions during the hearing. The first panel discussion moderated by Dr. Githinji Gitahi, CEO of Amref Health Africa focused on how UHC can be a driver to accelerate health for all. The second panel discussion moderated by Ms. Elisha Dunn-Georgiou, President and Executive Director of Global Health Council centered on how to turn UHC commitments into action and hold leaders accountable. A summary by the President of the General Assembly of the Multistakeholder Hearing on UHC can be accessed here. You can also read our interventions by Dumi and Nupur here.
Civil Society preparation for the UN HLM on UHC
Theme and Panel sessions:
The President of the General Assembly (PGA) has announced the theme for the UN HLM on UHC: Universal Health Coverage: Expanding our ambition for health and well-being in a post-COVID world.
The panel discussion themes are:
Panel 1: What is a primary health care approach and why does it matter?
Panel 2: Aligning our investments for health and well-being in a post-COVID world
Click here for more information.
Concept note and Logistic note:
The President of the General Assembly (PGA) has published a detailed concept note and logistic note for each of the three HLMs.
Click here for more information.
Programme and speakers:
Check out the latest letter from the PGA on the #UHCHLM Programme and speakers.
Click here for more information.
Registration:
Registration for the HLM is now closed. Confirmations for those that registered online have been sent by email via the UN conference registration system. The CSEM is not able to confirm registrations or assist with access to the HLM sessions.
However, the session will be livestreamed from the UN WEB TV here to allow for those who cannot attend in-person to instead watch online.
UHC High-level meeting udpates: civil society webinar
Civil society and communities were invited to join a webinar on 27 July to learn about the latest information on the preparations for the HLM.
Watch the recording below to know more about updates on the ongoing negotiations on the UHC, TB and PPPR political declarations (PART 1), as well as information on registration, HLM program, side events, and more (PART 2). You can watch the recording here.
UHC- related Side Events
Check out our event listing here to learn more about #UHCHLM-related side events taking place in New York and/or online.
Organizing a side event not yet listed? Please send an email to laura@wacihealth.org to be included.
Countdown to the UN High-Level Meeting on UHC
Take part in the 10-day online campaign toward the #UHCHLM
Ahead of the High-level meetings in New york, join UHC advocates from all around the world for a final online campaign.
The aim will be to rally together behind ambitious and actionable commitment to achieve #HealthForAll by promoting the Action Agenda Key asks as we are launching the 10-day countdown toward the adoption of the 2023 Political declaration on UHC.
Follow CSEM and UHC2030 on x.com (forme Twitter) to engage, and find more information here.
Outcomes of the civil society meeting following the adoption of the Political Declaration on UHC
Post-UHC HLM Debrief and Strategy Session
Following the endorsement of the 2023 Political Declaration on UHC, civil society advocates joined the strategy session held by CSEM, the Civil Society Engagement Mechanism (CSEM) for UHC2030, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the Global Health Council (GHC) to debrief on the High-level meeting outcomes and strategize how advocates will work together to ensure implementation of commitments and to hold leaders accountable.
A second session was organized online on 29 September, to get more feedback from all our members, especially those who couldn’t make it to New York.
Learn more with the summary of the outcomes of the civil society discussion here
Tools for a comprehensive analysis of the 2023 Political Decalaration on UHC
CSEM comprehensive analysis and briefing note
As part of the High-level Meeting (HLM) on Universal Heath Coverage (UHC) follow-up, the CSEM is pleased to share advocacy tools related to the outcomes of the 2023 Political Declaration on UHC. We hope you find them useful in your efforts to drive the implementation of the HLM commitments in your countries and hold governments accountable.
UHC2030 and CSEM resources
HLM resources from civil society partners
Asia-Pacific Communities Statement of Positions on the 3 HLMs – APCASO
“Resilient, Sustainable, Integrated, and Fully Resourced Systems for Health” 3 HLMs. One Region. And This is Our Vision.
Statement of Asia-Pacific Communities and Civil Society on the 2023 High Level Meetings on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPPR), Universal Health Coverage (UHC), and Tuberculosis (TB). Learn more.
HelpAge’s briefings for the HLMs on UHC and on PPPR – HelpAge International
Key calls for governments for the High-Level Meeting by HelpAge International
Urgent action is needed to accelerate progress towards UHC in low- and middle-income countries and to reorient systems everywhere to be fit for an ageing world.Read HelpAge briefing for the High Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage here.
Looking to the future, we must ensure this inequity ends and is never repeated. Human rights must guide pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPPR) at all levels, with those most at risk placed front and centre.Read HelpAge briefing for the High Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response here.
Key Asks on Integrating Mental Health into UHC – Global Mental Health Action Network
The UHC working group of the Global Mental Health Action Network have produced a brief detailing their 8 key asks on integrating mental health into UHC.
The asks are a powerful advocacy tool for national advocacy on UHC and for global advocates to ensure mental health messaging is meaningfully included in political declarations at the G7, the UN high-level meeting on UHC and other key global moments. Lean more.
Rev 1 Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage (23 rd June 2023) - IDDC
Read feedback from the IDDC on the first draft of the Politicl Declaraation on UHC
A call to Prioritise Digital Health as an accelerator of UHC Progress – Transform Health
Transform Health’s asks for the World Health Assembly, UHC High Level Meeting and G20
Transform Health – a coalition of 100+ organisations advocating for health for all in the digital age – is calling for digital health and health data governance to be prioritised as key accelerators and components for Universal Health Coverage to be achieved by 2030. Today we have published eight key asks for this critical year of action. Learn more.
Multi Stakeholder Hearings on UHC & Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery – Women in Global Health
Women in Global health’s key messages for the HLMs
Read Women in Global Health key asks for the UHC and PPPR political declations negotitations – available in english, spanish, portuguese, french and arabis. Lean more.
No Universal Health Coverage without Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology – Humanity & Inclusion
A joint position statement in the lead-up to the United Nations’ High-Level Meeting on UHC
We remain ready and committed to collaborate with governments, health providers, the World Health Organization, technical and financial partners to improve access to quality rehabilitation services and assistive technology for everyone in need, everywhere, but in particular in low- and middle-income countries. Lean more.
Universal Health Coverage must leave no one behind: a call for action to advance health equity for persons with disabilities and older people in the new political declaration on UHC – IDDC
A briefing from the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC), April 2023
An estimated 1.3 billion people – or 1 in 6 persons – experience significant disability, 80% of whom live in low-income and middle-income countries. This figure is rising due to population ageing and escalating prevalence and complexity of poverty-related, non-communicable and communicable diseases. Learn more.
NCD Alliance Messages on the Zero Draft Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting on UHC 2023 – NCD Alliance
NCD Alliance’s key recommendations for the Zero Draft of the 2023 Political Declaration on UHC
This document reflects NCD Alliance analysis and key advocacy message related to the zero draft of the Political Declaration of the High-Level Meeting on UHC (happening on 21 September 2023).Lean more.
Proposals for inclusion in a political declaration on UHC from the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region - EECA UHC communication platform
A joint position negotiated with 30 NGOs and civil society organizations from 10 countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Following the publication of the Zero Draft Political Declaration, organizations in the EECA region formulated the following proposals aimed at improving both the civil society engagement process and the text of the Political Declaration itself. Availble in english and russian.
Russian: Предложения для включения в политическую декларацию по вопросам всеобщего охвата услугами здравоохранения от региона Восточной Европы и Центральной Азии
Information Sessions
UN HLM 2023: Civil Society Briefing on the Action Agenda from the UHC Movement
UHC2030 Virtual Information Session on Action Agenda
Webinaire d’information de la société civile sur la réunion de haut niveau sur la CSU
Civil Society Informational Webinar on the Action Agenda
