Global health leaders will convene at the International Conference on Primary Health Care, marking the 45th anniversary of Alma-Ata and 5th anniversary of Astana declarations. The event, titled "Primary health care policy and practice: implementing for better results", is co-hosted by WHO, UNICEF and the Government of Kazakhstan. It is an official side event of the 73rd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe.

The Conference will provide a crucial window of opportunity that the world needs to build on the renewed political momentum gained from the recent adoption of the second High-Level Political Declaration on Universal Health Coverage at the UN General Assembly. The Declaration is hailed as a vital catalyst for the international community to take big and bold actions and mobilize the necessary political commitments and financial investments to attain the UHC target of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. However, the Declaration also noted the glaring lack of global progress and investment in making health for all a reality. It highlighted the urgent need for course-correction with primary health care as the best way forward.   

Today, more than half of the world’s population is still not covered by essential health services. Two billion people face severe financial hardship due to healthcare costs. Over the past two decades, less than a third of countries have improved health service coverage and reduced catastrophic out-of-pocket health spending. 

The International Conference on Primary Health Care will be an important opportunity for the world to review and take stock of country experiences: where we gained and where we lost progress. 

The event is implemented in collaboration with the UHC Partnership—WHO’s largest platform for international cooperation on UHC which is a core component of the WHO Special Programme on Primary Health Care. On 22 October, the UHC Partnership will also host a pre-conference workshop for over 250 delegates from ministries of health, development partners and WHO country offices from all over the world. The meeting will serve as a forum to examine the connections between primary health care and UHC, the political dynamics surrounding health system reforms, and success factors that enabled innovation and investment for primary health care for better implementation in the immediate future.

Visit this page for more information about the International Conference on Primary Health Care, event agenda, online registration and access to the virtual platform.