The WHO Strategic Partnership for IHR and Health Security (SPH) participated in the 140th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), engaging in development of the draft IPU resolution Achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030: the role of parliaments in ensuring the right to health.

SPH took part in preparatory discussion on the resolution in the IPU Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights during the Assembly, which was held 6 to 11 April 2019 in Doha, Qatar. Health security was highlighted in the discussion as representing an important pillar for achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).  Highlights from the discussion include:

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Control of major infectious disease outbreaks and the health consequences of disasters requires urgent action and greater national, regional and international collaboration. Continuing public health threats, disasters and impact of active conflict are evidence that the world remains vulnerable to health emergencies that have significant health, social, economic and political impact. Building and maintaining public health capacities for emergency preparedness and risk management is critical for timely and effective response;

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Parliaments should provide oversight and allocate resources for public health emergency preparedness and health systems that can absorb disruption, and adapt and respond to the evolving needs and contexts created by public health emergencies;

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At least half of the world’s population still has no access to full coverage of essential health services and about 100 million people are being pushed into extreme poverty because of health care costs;

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Parliaments should advocate for full implementation of health security and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to ensure communities and populations have the health services they need, that these services are of sufficient quality to be effective, and that accessing them does not expose the user to financial hardship.

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The international community has agreed to achieve UHC by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Through its deliberations and the resolution, the IPU is laying the groundwork for vigorous parliamentary action in this area

This preparatory debate in the standing committee will inform preparation of the resolution and underpin the parliamentary contribution to the high-level meeting on UHC at the United Nations General Assembly in September. WHO will contribute to IPU’s preparation of the draft resolution, taking into account views expressed during the debate and through written submissions. WHO will continue to work closely with the IPU secretariat in drafting the resolution and the Standing Committee will consider the draft when it next meets at the 141st Assembly in October 2019.  

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