New York, NY
During the 74th United Nations General Assembly, there will be the launch event for the UHC Legal Solutions Network, a new collaboration between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the World Health Organization (WHO), and Georgetown University, supporting national policymakers in crafting laws, regulations, and policies that realize the promise and power of universal health coverage (UHC). This event will take place on Wednesday, September 25th, 2019 at 8 – 9:30am at the Hank Shannon Conference Room at UNDP Headquarters, DC-1 Building 21st floor on First Avenue at 44th Street.
Making progress toward achieving UHC has emerged as a powerful political, policy, and programmatic imperative for public, private, and civil society leaders in countries across the world, including for many low-income and middle-income nations (LMICs) where this goal would have been seen as inconceivable only a few years ago.
The Lancet – O’Neill Institute, Georgetown University Commission report on Global Health and Law published in April 2019 reaffirms the importance of law as a catalyst for efforts to achieve UHC. The Commissioners cite UHC related statutes and regulations as prime illustrations of “legal determinants of health,” demonstrating expressly the power of laws to translate policy into action. However, there are many practical challenges facing health policymakers in legislative and executive bodies that could impact their ability to draft, enact, and implement laws and policies needed to accelerate progress towards UHC.
This event, which signifies the launch of the UHC Legal Solutions Network, will engage a range of stakeholders to discuss proposals for providing much needed support to countries embarking on UHC law reform. Discussions will include how to scale up these efforts, including through direct country support and whole-of-government capacity building and awareness-raising.
Issues
Global Health Law Health Equity Human Rights UNAIDS World Health Organization