Honourable Ministers and Regional Directors, Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,
The COVID-19 pandemic has destabilized societies, economies, and governments.
It has been a powerful demonstration that when health is at risk, everything is at risk, and that there is no global security without local health security.
That’s why the task of supporting countries to enhance preparedness and progress towards universal health coverage, based on a foundation of primary health care, is more urgent than ever.
We have often said that universal health coverage and health security are two sides of the same coin.
Resilient health systems, built on robust primary health care, are a vital first line of defence against outbreaks with epidemic and pandemic potential; but they’re also essential for promoting health, preventing communicable and noncommunicable
diseases, and for reducing inequalities and inequities.
In practice, this means a resilient health system that has earned the trust of the communities it serves, is well-prepared, well-resourced, and flexible enough to absorb the impact of disruptive events and maintain safe health services.
And of course, it means a well-paid, well-trained and well-supplied health workforce.
The position paper we are launching today articulates WHO’s vision for the recovery of health systems as central to socio-economic recovery and development.
This vision is informed by the lessons learned from COVID-19 and recognises the need for improving equity across the social and environmental determinants of health.
The pandemic has magnified the divisions in societies, with the impacts borne disproportionately by the most vulnerable.
It comes at a time when we can no longer fail to acknowledge the direct link between the health of populations, the environment, and economic and social systems.
Fragmented approaches to the way countries finance, plan, implement and monitor health have perpetuated critical gaps that leaves health systems and populations vulnerable in the face of crises like COVID-19.
WHO’s vision is to enable integrated approaches to improving health systems resilience for universal health coverage and health security, based on a foundation of primary health care, with effective community engagement and a greater focus on equity.
These are essential to address the prevailing inequities and disproportionate impact of public health emergencies like COVID-19 on marginalised and vulnerable populations, including those in fragile, conflict-affected and violent contexts.
The position paper outlines seven policy recommendations:
First, leverage the current response to COVID-19 to strengthen both pandemic preparedness and health systems;
Second, invest in essential public health functions, including those needed for all-hazards emergency risk management;
Third, build a strong primary health care foundation for resilient health systems for UHC, the health-related SDGs and health security;
Fourth, invest in institutionalized mechanisms for whole-of-society engagement;
Fifth, promote enabling environments for research, innovation and learning;
Sixth, increase domestic and global investment in health system foundations and all-hazards emergency risk management;
And seventh, address pre-existing inequities and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on marginalized and vulnerable populations.
The position paper spells out each of these policy recommendations in more detail, with actions for each.
My thanks and congratulations to all our colleagues who have worked on this position paper.
My hope is that all Member States read it, implement it, and reap its benefits.
Every crisis is an opportunity. Although the pandemic has taken so much from us, it’s also giving us the opportunity to write a new future that is healthier, safer and fairer.
Because above all, the pandemic has taught us that health is not a cost to be contained, but an investment to be nurtured; it is not a luxury, but the foundation of social, economic and political stability.
I thank you.