Universal Coverage Can Help Make Health Care ‘a Right, Not a Privilege’,

 

Secretary-General Says in Message for Prince Mahidol Award Conference

 

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message for the Prince Mahidol Award Conference, in Bangkok, from 24-28 January:

Every year, millions of people die from easily preventable diseases.  The reason is simple yet tragic:  a staggering 1 billion people around the world lack access to health-care systems.

But together we can make a difference.  Health care is a right, not a privilege.  And universal health coverage can help make that possible.

With it we can break barriers — the barriers of economic status, age and gender — so that every child, every woman, and everyone has access to a healthy life.

My name is Ban Ki-moon, and I believe in universal health coverage.  I also believe that if we all join together we can save lives.

Choose health.  And join us in our commitment to health-care equality.

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For information media • not an official record