Need for Universal Health Care More Urgent than Ever to Recover from Pandemic, Deputy Secretary-General Tells High-Level Meeting

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary‑General Amina Mohammed’s video message to the virtual meeting, “Road to 2023:  Kick‑off to the High‑level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage”, today:

This meeting marks the two-year anniversary of the 2019 high‑level meeting on universal health coverage, when Heads of State from around the world recognized that universal health coverage is fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and committed to accelerating progress.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, we were not on track to achieve the UHC [universal health coverage] targets for 2030.  Since then, we have witnessed the tragic consequences of this crisis on individual lives and on our development:  illness and death; over 100 million people pushed back into extreme poverty; a dire impact on mental health; lost education; reversal of progress on gender equality; reduced access to other health services, including those for sexual and reproductive health; and an increase in domestic violence, child marriage and unpaid work.

The need for universal health coverage has become more urgent than ever.  Accelerating joint action on universal health coverage, climate change and transforming food systems must be essential elements of all COVID‑19 recovery plans.  This will help to build stronger, more resilient communities and societies and is central to preventing and dealing with future pandemics.  We can only succeed through a combination of national action and multilateral collaboration.

Platforms including the Sustainable Development Goal 3 Global Action Plan with its focus on “Every Woman Every Child” and primary health care, and UHC2030 can help coordinate approaches and maximize impact.

Today, let us commit to bold measures and strengthen our cooperation.  Our high‑level meeting in 2023 must be a celebration of progress towards an equitable and resilient recovery, universal health coverage and the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  Thank you.