UNGA president: inadequate, inequitable health care 'economically unsustainable'

UNTIED NATIONS -- UN General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces said on Monday that inadequate and inequitable health care is "economically unsustainable" given their enormous negative impact on economy.

At least half of the world's population lacks access to essential health services, and health expenses push over hundred million people into extreme poverty every year, Espinosa said at a preparatory hearing for a high-level meeting of the General Assembly on Universal Health Coverage in September.

She pointed out that so often women and girls suffer disproportionately when it comes to sexual and reproductive health as well as accessing other basic services, adding persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, minorities and those living in rural areas are also more likely to have poor health outcomes.

"This is totally unacceptable and profoundly sad," she deplored, stressing it runs counter to our commitment to leave no one behind and is also "economically unsustainable" as the macro level impact of poor health services is enormous, estimated at trillions of dollars every year in lost productivity, long-term impairment and short-term expenditure.

While noting universal health coverage is crucial for delivering on the entire UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, she said the goal is "one of the most challenging to achieve."

However, "if we look at the full impact and cost of poor health services, the case for prioritizing universal health coverage is clear," she said.

The General Assembly president encouraged participants of the September meeting to accelerate progress on health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to essential services and access to safe, effective and affordable medicines and vaccines.

Monday's hearing, the interactive multi-stakeholder hearing themed "Universal health coverage: moving together to build a healthier world," is part of the preparatory process for the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on Universal Health Coverage.

Over 600 representatives from public health organizations, civil society, foundations, academia and the private sector are present at the hearing.