About the UN High-Level Meeting on UHC 2023

The 2023 UN High-level meeting on universal health coverage (UHC) provides countries and all stakeholders an opportunity to reinvigorate progress towards delivering health for all.  An action-oriented outcome focusing on building resilient and equitable health systems is key to provide the basis for implementation and accountability, building on the 2019 Political Declaration.

In September 2019, at the first United Nations High-Level Meeting (UN HLM) on UHC, world leaders endorsed the most ambitious and comprehensive political declaration on health in history. However, according to the latest global monitoring report on universal health coverage, UHC progress is not on track, and the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the world further away from the 2023 targets set by the political declaration:

• Progressively covering 1 billion additional people, with a view of covering all people by 2030;
• Stopping the rise and reversing the trend of catastrophic out-of-pocket health expenditure and eliminate impoverishment due to health-related expenses by 2030.

UHC2030’s latest State of UHC Commitment Review Key Findings also find that in 2022, progress on UHC has stalled and in some cases has reversed. 

Accelerating progress towards universal health coverage and delivering on political commitments made in 2019 has never been more urgent. Concrete action is needed to strengthen equitable health systems – including public health functions that are critical for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Ahead of the September 2023 High-level meeting, an interactive multi-stakeholder hearing was held on 9 May, 2023 by the President of the UN General Assembly. Alongside the Action Agenda from the UHC Movement, the hearing's summary report will be taken into account for the 2023 Political Declaration.

Action Agenda from the UHC Movement

Multi-stakeholder hearings

The multi-stakeholder hearings on health took place on 8 - 9 May at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA. 

The President of the United Nations General Assembly convened a series of multi-stakeholder hearings in preparation of the High-Level Meetings on Universal Health Coverage, the fight against Tuberculosis and Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response. The half-day interactive hearings provided an opportunity for all relevant stakeholders to contribute to the ongoing preparatory process for the High-Level Meetings, with a focus on the current state of efforts and top needs to accelerate response. Participants were encouraged to exchange views on key priorities for the High-Level Meeting, while underscoring experiences and best practices on the ground, highlighting the special challenges faced by civil society and other relevant stakeholders working in the field and the need for stronger accountability at all levels. For each hearing, the President of the General Assembly will prepare a summary that will be circulated to all Member States and other stakeholders. 

Read our summary of the hearings here

Watch the recording here

Engage, advocate and participate

UHC2030 and the UN HLM

Background