Cancer mentioned but more action needed to translate UN Political Declaration into universal health coverage
UICC welcomes the renewed commitment to universal health coverage made by governments, noting the crucial inclusion of cancer in the Political Declaration on UHC endorsed at the recent high-level meeting in New York. However, the document falls short of many of the concrete commitments needed to drive change.
On 21 September 2023, world leaders endorsed the second UN Political Declaration on universal health coverage (UHC), which reiterated the universal right to health and focuses on building stronger health systems post-COVID to deliver UHC and help achieve the sustainable development goals.
Several issues made negotiations challenging, including disagreements on language relating to sexual and reproductive health and rights, financing for UHC and the suggested text on the impact of sanctions on health. While a global civil society coalition called for a short, action-oriented document, the declaration endorsed exceeds 18 pages and describes a set of wide-ranging calls to action but which lack clear, measurable targets.
"UICC has been actively working with its members to advocate for the inclusion of cancer care in national UHC benefit packages and applauds Member States for including cancer at the global level. The explicit reference to the growing burden of cancer and NCDs on communities and health systems around the world in the UN Political Declaration helps to provide a foundation for advocacy for the integration of cancer control into UHC strategies. However, the commitments made fall far short of the measurable targets and actions needed to accelerate UHC implementation and protect cancer patients and communities."
– Dr Sonali Johnson, Head of Knowledge and Advocacy, UICC
The organisation also welcomes key references to establishing stronger primary health care systems, which can direct patients to secondary and specialist care services, to the importance of early detection and improving diagnosis services, as well as to maintaining health services in emergencies, improving equity and access for vulnerable populations, and the need for greater civil society and healthcare workforce participation in UHC governance.
The next review of UHC progress is set for 2027. Until then, a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including UICC and its members, is crucial to ensure that cancer prevention, detection, treatment and care services are progressively implemented in the national roll out of UHC.
In particular, some of the outstanding issues include the mobilisation of adequate financial resources to support UHC implementation; the implementation of cost-effective interventions for cancer and NCD prevention (previously called the ‘best buys’); and the alignment of UHC benefit packages with existing national cancer and NCD plans, including adequate health workforce, access to medicines and technologies.
A discussion session on "Delivering and funding the promise of universal health care" will take place at the upcoming World Cancer Leaders' Summit on Tuesday 17 October.
Read opinion article by Sonali Johnson on UHC and cancer care in Bangkok Post
Building a global health architecture
The past decade has seen the creation of numerous global commitments to drive improvements in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for cancer patients and people living with other NCDs. UICC is proud to have been an active partner in this process.
Among these:
- 2011: working as part of the growing global NCD community, UICC helped to secure the first High-level Meeting (HLM) on NCDs. Speaking at the meeting in New York, HRH Princess Dina Mired (UICC President 2018-2020), delivered a keynote speech calling for urgent action on behalf of all those living with NCDs, their families, friends and communities.
- 2014: UICC contributed to a global review of progress in NCDs.
- 2015: as part of a broad coalition of NCD organisations, coordinated by the NCD Alliance, UICC contributed to securing a target on NCDs in the Sustainable Development Goals. This was the first time the global development architecture had included NCDs.
- 2018: working collectively, UICC advocated for an ambitious political declaration on NCDs renewing efforts to accelerate action.
- 2019: as part of a global coalition brought together by UHC 2030, UICC advocated for the first political declaration on UHC.
Visit UICC's dedicated webpage for the timeline of success on UHC
Last update
Wednesday 04 October 2023
