Youth lead the charge for health for all: Highlights from the 2025 UHC Day Youth Workshop

The event was hosted by UHC2030, the Civil Society Engagement Mechanism (CSEM), the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO), the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) and the ICN Alliance of Student and Early Career Nurses. 

Moderated by Kana Halić Kordić, Vice-President for External Affairs at IFMSA, the session brought together medical students, young health professionals, patient advocates, and youth leaders from across the world – from Zambia to Saudi Arabia, India to Malawi – united under one shared mission: health for all.

Setting the tone: Advocacy with passion and purpose

In her keynote address, H.E. Ms Céline Jurgensen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations Office at Geneva, offered heartfelt and practical reflections on how youth can lead change through evidence-based advocacy.

Drawing on her diplomatic career, she encouraged participants to combine idealism with pragmatism: “Be true to yourself, but base your advocacy on facts. Passion and rationality go hand in hand. In a world where reality is under attack, we must defend truth and science.”

She emphasized that health is both a human right and a foundation for sustainable development, urging young advocates to “use their voices for those who do not yet have one” and to approach global health challenges with courage, creativity and hope.

Following the keynote, Bethany-Kate Lewis of the UHC2030 Secretariat recalled the 2025 UHC Day Campaign theme – “Unaffordable health costs? We’re sick of it.” – explaining that while progress has been made, more than half of the world’s population still lacks access to essential health services, and one in four people face financial hardship when paying for care, often forcing people to make impossible choices between health and other essentials, such as food, housing or education. The campaign calls on leaders to invest in equitable, people-centred health systems and to make financial protection a political priority. It invites people to get involved and use the campaign toolkit through five steps:

1. Spread the word!
2. Tell your story.
3. Call for change.
4. Join forces.
5. Share the movement. 

Access the toolkit

The UHC2030 Secretariat then introduced the 2025 UHC Day Youth Challenge, inviting youth to get involved and drive change in their country. 

Join the youth challenge

Advocate to influence: Making your case with facts and feelings

The session then moved into an interactive workshop led by Laura Philidor of the CSEM. Laura introduced the “Advocate to influence” framework, guiding participants on how to combine facts and feelings to craft persuasive advocacy messages.

“Stories make the impact. Data drives the action,” she reminded the group. “You are the bridge between people’s lived realities and the policy decisions that shape their lives.”

Participants were invited to take five minutes write short testimonials linking personal or community experiences to UHC data and encouraged to read their stories aloud or share them in the chat. They shared stories about seeing family members worry about the availability and accessibility of essential, life-saving medicines; havig patients stop care and treatment due to the high costs; traveling long distances to health facilities in rural areas; and having to choose between paying for studies and paying for medicine. 

The chat filled with applause and messages of solidarity, with many pledging to record their own #HealthCostsHurt videos to continue the conversation on social media.

Keeping the momentum going

As the session came to a close, Kana thanked the speakers and participants for their energy and insight. “Today you’ve shown that advocacy is not just about policy – it’s about people,” she said. “Your voices, your stories and your commitment are what will move leaders to act.”

Participants were encouraged to stay engaged by:

• Posting their #HealthCostsHurt videos to raise awareness
• Using the UHC Day advocacy templates to send advocacy letters, statements and media releases
• Joining the upcoming Youth and Parliamentarian Town Hall on 12 December (details pending)
• Signing up for the UHC Day Substack to receive campaign updates and youth advocacy opportunities

“Together, we’re building a stronger, youth-led movement for universal health coverage,” Kana concluded. “The future of health systems belongs to those brave enough to demand change – and that’s exactly what you’re doing.”

Watch the event recording here