The UHC Movement celebrates the adoption of the WHA resolution on strengthening health financing globally

Rethinking the current approach to health financing to create more sustainable systems that foster healthy, equitable and resilient communities is a long overdue process. Almost 2 billion people face financial hardship when paying for health services, with 1 billion people globally spending more than 10% of their household budgets on healthcare and over 340 million people being pushed or further pushed into extreme poverty. In 30 low- and lower-middle-income countries, out-of-pocket expenses remain the primary funding source for health. This is unconscionable. 

The current global health crisis is a stark wake-up call to make government funding the primary source of health financing. Although global health expenditure reached record high levels during the COVID-19 crisis, the health share of general government spending in 2022 fell below the pre-COVID-19 levels of 2019. Moreover, although official development assistance remains critical for many low and lower-middle income countries, current global events show that health cannot rely on often volatile and unpredictable external aid. Recent freezes and cuts in official development assistance have already reduced access to essential health services, endangering millions of lives and affecting progress on many health priorities, including non-communicable disease. 

A rapid WHO assessment in March 2025 found out that the nature and scale of service disruptions are comparable to those observed during the peak periods of the COVID-19 pandemic in some settings, with disruptions surveyed in about 70% of the WHO country offices. Moreover, 25% of them have suggested that cuts are already translating into increased out-of-pocket payments. Ultimately, the burden of this crisis will disproportionately fall on the most vulnerable, exacerbating health inequities and undermining the foundational principles of UHC. 

In light of this global crisis, we, the members of the UHC Movement Political Panel, congratulate WHO Member States for their adoption of the Resolution on strengthening health financing globally, which offers a blueprint for using limited resources more effectively and investing in health as a foundation for economic stability, health system efficiency, and long-term development. We are encouraged by the focus on financial protection and also welcome the reference to the WHA77 resolution on social participation for UHC, health and well-being, noting the important role that social participation can have in fostering mutual respect and trust, while making health systems more responsive, equitable and resilient. Both financial protection from impoverishing health spending and social participation are key to closing the gaps in access to services and addressing the daily struggle of billions of people around the world who are denied the fundamental right to health, well-being and dignity. 

Some of the key calls to action in the resolution include:

• Reducing out-of-pocket expenditure, prioritizing the poor and others at risk of financial hardship, and focusing on government revenue as the primary source of financing.
• Prioritizing pooling of government funds to reduce fragmentation and out-of-pocket expenditure at the point of care.
• Prioritizing health in public budgets through strong national and regional political leadership.
• Focusing domestic resources on an affordable package of essential health benefits, based on evidence, and developed through inclusive and transparent processes.
• Developing and implementing policies and reforms to address fragmentation and promote coherent and aligned health financing systems, across health programmes.
• Designing and streamlining processes to transition smoothly and sustainably from external assistance for health to robust domestic financing for health including through progressive integration of vertical funding flows into domestic systems.

Implementing these measures will require strong political will and leadership, as well as clear strategies, milestones and timelines. We provide our unwavering support and stand ready to work with all partners to take this critical resolution forward. We also pledge to review progress and promote the exchange of experience and lessons learned in close collaboration with all partners, and particularly those who are elevating the voices of communities, people, patients and health and care workers.

Let’s use the resolution on strengthening health financing globally – and the political momentum stemming from its adoption – to drive immediate action and accountability for health for all. We know what to do. Change starts today.