Co-chair statement to the G7

As Japan takes over the G7 Presidency on 1 January 2023, we congratulate Germany on its successful G7 Presidency in 2022, and call on all G7 members to make health for all a reality, for everyone, everywhere.

Japan’s G7 Presidency takes place at a critical juncture. The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown the world off track on all health targets and widened existing inequalities. As the Covid-19 pandemic recedes, G7 members have an opportunity to shift from the emergency response to making investments in resilient, equitable health systems. Stronger health systems for universal health coverage (UHC) can set the world back on track to achieve health targets and equity goals and are also the prerequisite for being better prepared for the next pandemic.

Taking place during Japan’s G7 Presidency, the 2023 High-Level Meeting on UHC provides G7 members and all countries and stakeholders an opportunity to reinvigorate progress towards UHC, with action-oriented outcomes to strengthen health systems which provide the basis for implementation and accountability, building on the 2019 Political Declaration. To achieve health for everyone, everywhere, G7 members must advocate for and ensure meaningful participation of communities in relevant government processes and address gender equality and the rights of underserved groups, in particular women and girls. 

As Co-chairs of UHC2030, a global movement to build stronger health systems for universal health coverage (UHC), we advocate for both UHC and health security as two intertwined goals to protect everyone, everywhere, that we achieve through the same health system with focus on primary health care - in crisis and calm. We call on G7 members to show political leadership, by advocating for and implementing ambitious, actionable commitments on UHC. 

-Gabriela Cuevas and Justin Koonin, Co-chairs of UHC2030 Steering Committee