Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly Strategic Roundtable
The pandemic served as a stark reminder of the intricate relationship between health and the economy and the fragility of health systems. As the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, countries are confronting huge gaps and challenges in delivering access to basic health services against the reality of escalating crises, climate change and major contractions in financing. WHO, world leaders and key partners, including parliaments, are working together to advance a bold new vision that places people’s health and well-being at the centre of national and global actions in an increasingly turbulent world.
The WHO Council on the Economics of Health For All reframed health as a public policy objective, setting forth recommendations to ensure that economies are structured to support health and well-being. Urgent investments in health—with a strong focus on reorienting health systems towards a primary health care approach – represents a key global priority to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Such investments are crucial to increase the capacity of communities and countries to deliver quality healthcare for all and enhance resilience to future health crises. Domestic public financing are the most sustainable resources and the clearest expression of how countries prioritize the health of their populations. Increased domestic financing combined with new financing opportunities is an essential ingredient to rapidly accelerate progress towards UHC.
This strategic roundtable will delve into pivotal new opportunities for WHO Member States to reposition Health For All as a shared responsibility across all sectors and a powerful driver of sustainable, equitable and purposeful development. It aims to enable health ministers to champion actions and influence financing across multiple sectors for a whole-of-society approach to advance people’s health and well-being. Following a keynote address on the work of the Council, the roundtable will share perspectives from regional investment banks, economists, national governments, civil society and parliament.
The session takes place at the UN Palais des Nations, Room XVIII on Wednesday 29 May 2024 between 13:00–14:15 CEST.
The strategic roundtables span the overarching theme of the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly: All for health, health for all, and WHO Investment Round, allowing participants to reflect on the Organization’s achievements, current and future challenges facing global health.
Related documents
WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All
Final report | Executive summary of the final report