Distinguished delegates,

We welcome the update but acknowledge the insufficient global progress towards achieving UHC by 2030.

As of 2023, only 290 million people have been added towards the 1 billion UHC target, leaving over half of the world without full essential health service coverage. This shortfall leads to millions falling into poverty due to out-of-pocket health expenditures.

The inclusion of UHC in 70% of national health policies is a positive step, and yet, countries have made almost no progress since 2000 in expanding and investing in UHC services for the prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of NCDs. Moreover, only a handful are on track to meet SDG target 3.4 to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by a third by 2030.

NCDs are responsible for 41 million deaths annually, accounting for 74% of all deaths worldwide. Of those deaths, 77% occur in low- and lower-middle-income countries. The burden of NCDs is expected to worsen, with 52 million lives lost annually by 2030.

Most of these deaths can be prevented or delayed while optimizing quality of life.
If countries wish to deliver UHC, fully integrating the NCD prevention and care continuum into UHC is not merely an option—it is an absolute necessity.
Governments must urgently address unfair barriers to NCD prevention and care, ensuring the full spectrum of health services and the continuum of care for people with disabilities, older persons, children and adolescents, women and girls, and other groups at risk of discrimination.

Furthermore, countries must align NCD services with other global health and development priorities. For example, people living with HIV have an increased risk of major NCDs compared to those without HIV. By integrating services for HIV/AIDS and NCDs, countries can ensure comprehensive care, improve healthcare system efficiency, and advance UHC.

Finally, for a participatory approach to governance for UHC, people of all ages and genders living with health conditions, including NCDs, must be involved in developing national policies and monitoring their implementation.

Thank you.