Health Services: Developing Countries

(asked on 3rd September 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how his Department works with the Department of International Development to promote a shared agenda on universal health coverage.


Answered by
Steve Brine Portrait
Steve Brine
This question was answered on 11th September 2018

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) works closely with the Department for International Development (DFID) engaging regularly and at all levels to promote a shared agenda on the importance of achieving universal health coverage. We take a “one HMG” approach on all aspects of global health. This includes through international fora such as the World Health Organization (WHO), where DHSC leads the United Kingdom relationship, working in partnership with DFID and others; including sending joint delegations to WHO meetings.

Achieving Global Goal 3 by 2030, including universal health coverage (UHC), is a priority for the UK. At the World Health Assembly this year, the former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (the Rt. hon. Jeremy Hunt MP) stressed the importance of universal access to basic healthcare in the UK National Address. We also supported the agreement of WHO’s thirteenth General Programme of Work, with its strong focus on UHC. Preparations for the United Nations (UN) high-level meeting on UHC at the UN General Assembly in 2019 are still at an early stage but DHSC is engaging closely in the work led by DFID to identify clear deliverables that will enhance greater collective action to achieve UHC. We are working with DFID to ensure that UHC, and the steps to achieve it, are discussed in international fora, such as the G7 and G20, ahead of the High-Level Meeting.

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