WHO joined the parliamentary leaders at the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 5–9 April. Bringing together nearly 1 400 delegates from 130 countries, this landmark Assembly reinforced the vital role of parliamentarians in advancing universal health coverage (UHC), health security, gender equality and sustainable financing for health against a backdrop of growing global challenges.
“I commend you for a focus on this Assembly on social development, equity and justice. Health is central to each of these goals, and parliaments play a vital role at this crucial period when the world is facing many geopolitical challenges and multilateralism is under attack,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General in his speech during the Assembly’s general debate.
WHO’s message on sustainable financing
The IPU Assembly served as a timely platform for WHO to call attention to the urgent need for sustainable financing for health at the global level. As the world grapples with a convergence of complex challenges, including geopolitical tension, economic uncertainty and competing donor priorities, WHO warned of the immediate and far-reaching implications for vulnerable and marginalized groups the Organization serves.
WHO further highlighted the vital role of parliamentarians’ leadership in championing long-term investments in health: investments that yield high returns through healthy population, economic stability and global security.
Workshop on beliefs and social norms: the impact on women’s health
On the eve of World Health Day, which focuses this year on maternal and newborn health, a workshop co-organized by WHO, IPU, and the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), explored the powerful impact of beliefs and social norms on women’s health. This is particularly evident in the field of sexual and reproductive health. Parliamentarians addressed issues such as female genital mutilation and champion concrete actions to address the full continuum of women’s health needs – including access to service and information they need to control their own lives and bodies.
Featuring voices from the members of parliament, IPU Secretariat, WHO and PMNCH, the discussion underscored the urgent need for evidence-based legislation to counter harmful practices linked to ingrained social norms that perpetuate gender-based discrimination and inequality.
“Evidence shows that prioritizing women’s health and rights holistically before, during and well-beyond the reproductive years is the path toward a healthier, more equitable world,” said Ms Elisa Scolaro, WHO External Relations Officer for Health and Multilateral Partnerships.
“Therefore, the role of parliamentarians is crucial in safeguarding global health investments and supporting long-term predictable financing in health,” she said, emphasizing the importance of alignment between WHO, as the world’s health agency, and IPU, as the global voice for democracy.
Advisory Group on Health
At the heart of WHO’s engagement was the 32nd meeting of the IPU Advisory Group on Health, where WHO contributed substantive input on various strategic themes, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender equality, global health security, climate and health and migration. These discussions reaffirmed the importance of parliamentary leadership in addressing complex and intertwining global health challenges.
One of the key agendas of the meeting was strengthening the accountability, ensuring that the landmark IPU resolution on UHC adopted in 2019 translates into concrete and tangible actions at national, regional and global level. To support this, WHO provided technical input on the creation of a new accountability framework, which will help monitor global progress, identify gaps, and guide parliamentarian actions to achieve UHC by 2030.
One of the major achievements of this Assembly was the establishment of the new IPU Committee on Health. Building on the legacy of the Advisory Group, this Committee will serve as the permanent platform for parliamentary engagement on health, which reinforces IPU’s commitment to health as a central pillar to achieving SDGs and social justice. WHO welcomes the creation of the IPU Committee dedicated to health and stands ready to provide technical support and guidance to its members as an invaluable partner.
Field visit
IPU, WHO and the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan co-organized a site visit to the Family Policlinic 7 in Tashkent, joined by the IPU members. A strong support was provided by the WHO Country Office in Uzbekistan. This visit was an opportunity to present significant achievements in maternal and child health reached by Uzbekistan, a testament to successful collaboration and partnership between WHO and the government of Uzbekistan.
Promoting WHA
WHO invited parliamentarians to continue the dialogue at the upcoming Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly (WHA78), which will take place in Geneva, 19–27 May. WHO and IPU will co-host the WHA’s first global parliamentary dialogue to advance health and ensure strong engagement in shaping global health policies and agendas, including ongoing negotiations of the Pandemic Agreement and sustainable financing for WHO.
“WHO is committed to working with the IPU to inform and support parliaments on global health priorities. We encourage all of you to join your national delegation at WHA78 to make your voice heard and to translate global health decisions into national-level actions,” affirmed Dr Tedros in his remarks to the delegates.
