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Universal health coverage in times of COVID-19 – Parliamentary best practices and challenges
Summary
13:30-15:00 CET
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is aimed at providing every person equal access to quality health services as required without causing financial hardships. At the 141st IPU Assembly in 2019, a landmark resolution entitled Achieving universal health coverage by 2030: The role of parliaments in ensuring the right to health was adopted by the IPU’s 179 Member Parliaments calling for parliaments to take all legal and policy measures to achieve UHC. Now more than ever, it is crucial that countries prioritize UHC to build stronger health systems with a well-resourced health workforce and address barriers to access to health for all. UHC reaffirms the right to health as a fundamental human right and can make the difference to countries’ responses to COVID 19 and the prevention and response to outbreaks of diseases.
The webinar will assess the progress towards UHC made by parliaments, and common challenges in accelerating these efforts. Given the current pandemic, participants will discuss how to prioritize UHC in the COVID-19 response and recovery, as well as examples on how UHC supports emergency preparedness and response.
It will provide a space for participants to ask questions and share country experiences and lessons learnt around the following questions:
- Since the adoption of the IPU resolution Achieving universal health coverage by 2030: The role of parliaments in ensuring the right to health, what specific actions has the parliament taken to implement it?
- How has COVID-19 impacted the progress towards UHC implementation? How has the pandemic affected access to health for vulnerable and marginalized populations, such as women and children?
- How can UHC support the COVID-19 response and recovery? What examples can you share from the work of your parliament?
Parliaments may also submit written inputs highlighting their country experiences on the topics under discussion. Written contributions should be sent to [email protected] by 22 November 2020.
The meeting will be open to all parliaments and include the IPU Advisory Group on Health members and its technical partners. The working languages will be English and French.
Registration: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0pduitrDMtHdIk3Hc_vEUhnTx3HyxLYejM