UN high-level meetings and multilateral processes

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) cause 41 million deaths per year, and this number continues to increase. Our health systems, already struggling to handle the current NCD burden, will need to take on more. And the poorest and most vulnerable populations who are disproportionately affected by NCDs will face continuous health expenses due to the chronic nature of NCDs.  

The lack of financial protection from health care costs frequently traps poor households in cycles of debt and illness, forcing parents to choose between good health, education and food for their children, thus perpetuating a downward intergenerational cycle of poverty and poor health.   

NCD preventive and treatment services are critical components of universal health coverage benefits packages. Achieving universal health coverage can also reduce poverty, accelerate socioeconomic progress, and drastically improve global health. It’s time for governments to make ambitious, actionable commitments and sustainable investments in equitable and resilient health systems, and to guarantee a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to make health for all a reality. 

Key facts: 

• NCDs cause 41 million deaths per year, and this number continues to increase. The lack of financial protection from health care costs frequently traps poor households in cycles of debt and illness, forcing parents to choose between good health, education and food for their children, thus perpetuating a downward intergenerational cycle of poverty and poor health.
• Achieving UHC can help address inequalities. For instance, with early education and access to health services, 80 per cent of premature deaths from heart disease, stroke and diabetes can be prevented or delayed. 

Read the blog from the Coalition of Partnerships for UHC and Global Health

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. 

The WHA Resolution on strengthening health financing globally, adopted in May 2025, 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 at UHC2030 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.

Learn more about the resolution on health financing

On the quest for health for all, all for health, we must embrace a whole-of-society approach and promote multi-stakeholder cooperation. That is why we the co-chairs of UHC2030 congratulate WHO Member States for their adoption of the resolution on social participation for universal health coverage, health and well-being and offer our unwavering support for its implementation.

Social participation is critical to ensure people-centered health services and build equitable and resilient health systems that respond to the needs of people and communities, particularly those in vulnerable and marginalized situations. It is the 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.

More inclusive governance for health also provides the basis for creating trust in public health policies and programmes, which is indispensable for better outcomes during times of crisis and calm.

The Resolution on Social participation for universal health coverage, health and well-being recognizes the importance of regular and meaningful social participation to ensure the accountability and legitimacy of health systems strengthening and universal health coverage efforts anchored in a primary health care approach. UHC2030 is working with partners to ensure the resolution is translated into country action with clear strategies, milestones and timelines. This includes scaling up efforts towards institutionalizing social participation for meaningful and effective engagement in decision-making processes for UHC.

Learn more about the resolution on social participation

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial agents. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. Left unchecked, AMR will roll back a century of medical progress, damage the environment, interrupt food production, cause more people to fall into extreme poverty and imperil global health security. 

The fight against AMR and efforts to achieve universal health coverage are closely interlinked. Universal health coverage means that everyone, everywhere, has access to the health services they need without financial hardship. Achieving this goal is becoming more difficult with increasing AMR, which makes the provision of health care more challenging, less effective, and more expensive. On the other hand, universal health coverage offers great potential for addressing AMR. For instance, strengthening health systems to provide better quality health care can help promote prevention, timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment of drug-resistant infections. Quality health care can also decrease healthcare-associated infections, and affordable health services can increase timely access and appropriate use of quality antimicrobials.   

Both universal health coverage and AMR require political leadership and collaboration that goes beyond health. Governments must translate their universal health coverage commitments into action and leverage universal health coverage to effectively address AMR. 

Key facts: 

• An estimated 4.95 million deaths are associated with AMR every year, including 1.27 million deaths for which AMR is directly attributable.
• The devastating effects of drug-resistant infections can affect anyone, but those who are not protected by universal health coverage are especially at risk of AMR, primarily due to the limited availability of quality essential antimicrobials, vaccines and diagnostics.

Read the UHC Movement Political Panel’s article

Climate change is the biggest global health threat of the 21st century. It increases non-communicable diseases, facilitates the emergence and spread of infectious diseases, brings deadly weather events and drives health emergencies. Climate shocks and growing stresses such as droughts and rising sea levels undermine the environmental and social determinants of physical and mental health, such as clean air and water, sustainable food systems and livelihoods. Climate change also impacts the health and care workforce and infrastructure, reducing the capacity to provide health services that are needed to protect people. 

In a turbulent world facing climate change and other crises, governments must prioritize the health and well-being of populations more than ever. With more complex threats and challenges confronting people everywhere, healthier communities can cope better and thrive, even amidst the impacts of climate change. Countries with equitable and resilient health systems are better prepared to prevent and respond to health threats such as climate change and health-related crises. Climate change provides a strong impetus for countries to make progress towards UHC. 

Key facts: 

• Health care facilities are directly impacted by the effects of climate change. They are also at the forefront of managing the health effects of climate change on populations.
• However, many health care facilities remain ill-equipped to effectively manage these impacts: As of 2021, 22% of health care facilities had no basic water supply and 49% had no basic hygiene service.
• Health care facilities also play a role in exacerbating climate change, with the health sector being responsible for more than 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

Read WHO’s overview on safe, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable health care facilities

Universal health coverage and health security are two intertwined goals to protect everyone, everywhere - in crisis and calm. These goals are achieved through the same health system. 

Strengthening health systems, with a focus on primary health care, provides the foundations for both universal health coverage and health security. Countries with equitable and resilient health systems are more responsive to people’s needs during and after pandemics. They also have the necessary public health functions to address health emergencies and continue to deliver essential services. 

To accelerate progress on universal health coverage and health security, governments must increase and align resources for health systems. They must also take a primary health care approach that brings together efforts to strengthen health service delivery, essential public health functions and emergency risk management while empowering civil society and communities. 

Key facts:  

• In 2020, in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, about half of essential health services were disrupted; in 2021 about 90% of countries reported ongoing disruptions. Disruptions hit countries of all income levels, with large backlogs and long-term implications for health systems and health outcomes.
• The crisis worsened inequities, especially poverty and gender inequality, emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen health systems and ensure adequate public financing for health. 

Read our policy brief on UHC and the pandemic treaty