Register for the webinar on 8 October here
The Group of Friends of UHC will serve as an informal platform for UN Member States to exchange information on events and initiatives worldwide and at the UN that seek to support and advocate for achieving UHC by 2030.
It will also serve as a forum where members of the Group of Friends can discuss how to reiterate the value of UHC as an overarching goal to promote good health and well-being for all at all ages within the context of the UN and the 2030 Agenda. Finally, it will provide an opportunity for interested Member States to hear from relevant experts, partners and advocates on the various components and implications of health systems strengthening, including monitoring, accountability and the implementation measures necessary to achieve and sustain UHC.
With its partners, the Group of Friends can also consider, on an ad hoc basis, to lend support and/or organize special events at the UN on UHC, building momentum towards the HLM on UHC in 2019 and towards achieving UHC by 2030.
The Group of Friends of UHC will be open at the Permanent Representative (PR) and Deputy Permanent Representative (DPR) levels. The group will be open to all Member States, and will be co-convened by Japan, Brazil, France, Ghana, Hungary, South Africa and Thailand, which will provide logistical and administrative support for the group. It will initially be chaired by Japan, and will closely collaborate with the UN system and other relevant partners.
Meetings will be held on an as-needed basis, with the aim to hold a meeting every three months.
- On 13 December 2018, the first informal briefing was held in New York. At this briefing, Group of Friends of UHC and UHC 2030 were introduced to participating Permanent Missions to United Missions.
- On 15th February in 2019, at the second briefing in New York, Mr. Koro Bessho, Chair, introduced the group and its role in assisting the process towards the HLM. We welcomed all the Member States present, noting that 40 member states were already members of the group, with the number continuing to grow rapidly.
- On 1 April 2019, the Key Asks from the UHC Movement was finally launched at the Group of Friends for UHC and Global Health briefing. Dr. Githinji Gitahi presented the Key Asks and during the sessions inputs from the Group were promptly heard for further preparation to the Hearing. Look the related news
- On 29 April 2019, on the margins of the interactive multistakeholder Hearing for the UN HLM, over 60 representatives from member states attended the Luncheon on Voices from the UHC Movement co-hosted by the Group of Friends for UHC and Global Health. Ambassador Bessho, Permanent Representative to the Japanese Mission to the United Nations emphasized the importance of listening to the many voices of those leading the UHC movement.
Look Past related meeting and event videos
Contact information
Contact Satoshi Ezoe or Ikuko Shirai at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations
