A statement from UHC2030 co-chairs to G7 Health Ministers

We, the UHC2030 co-chairs, are pleased to see universal health coverage (UHC) at the front and center of discussions during the meeting of G7 Health Ministers in Italy on 10-11 October 2024.

We welcome the reaffirmed commitment of Health Ministers to work alongside global partners to assist countries to achieve UHC, including by:

• Supporting primary health care, maternal and child health, and sexual and reproductive health and rights
• Restoring essential health services to achieve better than pre-pandemic levels 
• Promoting universal access to comprehensive health services at every stage of life

We celebrate the G7’s specific focus on:  

1. The UHC Action Agenda as a foundation for improving health sector planning and responses to climate-sensitive diseases and natural disasters by 2030; 
2. The right of all individuals, particularly those in vulnerable and marginalized situations, to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; 
3. The importance of strengthening alignment and collaboration across the global health financing ecosystem, in line with the Lusaka Agenda, to support country-led priorities toward UHC; and,  
4. Health in All Policies and participatory governance as essential components of health promotion and disease prevention, as recognized in the WHA77 Resolution on social participation for UHC, health and well being.  

However, while these commitments represent a positive step towards progress, we urge G7 members to ensure that expanding access to health services is matched with robust action on financial protection.  

As we look ahead to Canada’s 2025 G7 Presidency, we also call on G7 leaders to prioritize financial protection as a key element of UHC by emphasizing the importance of ensuring that greater access to health services goes alongside protection from financial hardship in accessing these services.  

With 4.5 billion of the world’s population lacking access to essential health services, and over 2 billion facing financial hardship due to out-of-pocket costs, policy gaps on financial protection – which risk pushing individuals into poverty when they seek care – remain a fundamental threat to UHC.  

Stronger health systems are essential to getting the world back on track to meeting SDG health targets and are a prerequisite for responding to future crises, such as climate change, pandemics and humanitarian emergencies. Financial protection in health care is crucial to prevent catastrophic health expenditures that can push individuals into poverty or force them to forgo necessary medical treatment - leading to worse health outcomes and increased long-term costs for governments.  

When populations are healthy, economies prosper. Each year of life expectancy gained across populations raises GDP by approximately 4%. Poor health outcomes also affect long-term economic growth by reducing worker participation and productivity rates, negatively affecting GDP.   

Now is the time for G7 members to show political leadership by turning their UHC commitments into ambitious actions. UHC2030 looks forward to working closely with our G7 partners and the incoming G7 presidency to support vital actions for UHC progress.  

Together, we can shape a healthier, more equitable and more sustainable future by seizing the moment to create resilient health systems that protect everyone, everywhere. 

-Magda Robalo and Pamela Cipriano, co-chairs of UHC2030 
 

---

Background 

The Group of Seven (G7) is an intergovernmental forum of seven major advanced economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and the European Union which participates in the discussions as a guest. 

The G7 Health Ministers' Meeting took place on 10-11 October 2024, in Ancona, Italy. This meeting focused on reinforcing global health systems, building pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, and ensuring equitable access to healthcare. Canada will take up the G7 Presidency in 2025, following Italy's leadership in 2024.