UNGA 2019
The 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) held in September 2019, had put Universal Health Coverage (UHC) on top of its discussion agenda, organizing amongst others, a High-Level Meeting (HLM) of the Heads of Governments of the Member States. The 72nd World Health Assembly (May 2019) adopted a resolution drawing attention of the UN-HLM, calling for continuing investment in and strengthening primary healthcare as a cornerstone of a sustainable health system. The goal was to achieve UHC and other health-related SDGs, with a view to provide a comprehensive range of services and care that are people-centered, of high quality, safe, integrated, accessible, available, and affordable.
The 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) held in September 2019, had put Universal Health Coverage (UHC) on top of its discussion agenda, organizing amongst others, a High-Level Meeting (HLM) of the Heads of Governments of the Member States. The 72nd World Health Assembly (May 2019) adopted a resolution drawing attention of the UN-HLM, calling for continuing investment in and strengthening primary healthcare as a cornerstone of a sustainable health system. The goal was to achieve UHC and other health-related SDGs, with a view to provide a comprehensive range of services and care that are people-centered, of high quality, safe, integrated, accessible, available, and affordable.
The UNGA74 Side Event, Sustainable Health Coverage: Comprehensive primary care inclusive of mental health and disabilities was held on 27 September 2019 at the UNHQs Conference room. The side event was organized by: Bangladesh Permanent Mission in the UN, sponsored by: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh, and co-sponsored by the Royal Government of Bhutan, Government of Nepal, World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNFPA & Shuchona Foundation. The session was moderated by Shuchona Foundation’s Chairperson Ms. Saima Wazed, Advisor to the DG, WHO on Mental Health and Autism. She is also the Chairperson for the National Advisory Committee on Autism and NDDs, Bangladesh, and CVF Thematic Ambassador for Vulnerability.
The event focused on how the integrated physical, mental and rehabilitative health services in primary healthcare is a proven method of reducing the burden on secondary and tertiary care hospitals. As the need for mental health and disability care is often overlooked while planning and designing primary healthcare of UHC, Bangladesh has developed an innovative model of how this can be done through community setting in a cost-effective way.
The opening segments were given by high level dignitaries, such as H.E. Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, H.E. Dr. Lotay Tshering, Prime Minister, Royal Government of Bhutan, H.E. Upendra Yadav, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health & Population, Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Devora Kastel, Director, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Management, World Health Organization, Dr. Thaksaphon Thamarangsi, Director, Noncommunicable Disease and Environmental Health, WHO-SEARO.The session was chaired by H.E. Zahid Maleque, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Minister, People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
Speakers at the High-Level Segment spoke about initiatives taken by their respective countries, the existing gaps, and the challenges they face. Lack of trained human resources, inadequate number of facilities, lack of funding, harsh geographical conditions, stigma, lack of awareness, detrimental cultural beliefs are some of the issues which the governments are addressing to mitigate the challenges encountered. Bangladesh had made extraordinary progress in the healthcare sector and achieved much of the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) and is striving to improve and expand its healthcare sector as it works towards achieving UHC.
At the Technical Segment, experts brought in diverse viewpoints in their discussions and presentations based on their specializations, and experiences. Dr. Vikram Patel explained the evidence-based strategies to integrate mental health in routine primary health care, and that inclusion of mental health care is what will make us truly achieve UHC. Prof. Dr. A. K. Azad presented a detailed description of Bangladesh’s community clinic model including its structure, philosophy, operational methods, types of services, how it integrates and makes use of technology, how it has mental health and disability service provision, and ways Bangladesh plans to make it more inclusive in the future. Dr. Stefan Peterson complimented Bangladesh for making so much progress in the health sector despite challenges.
Evelyn Cherow, CEO & Founder, GlobalPartnersUnited, and one of Shuchona Foundation’s Advisory Council member, highlighted the importance of integrating the needs of children to achieve UHC, and ways it can be done. She touched upon challenges such as cultural beliefs that affect access to care and proposed that Bangladesh’s model be showcased so that others learn from it. Dr. Stephen Shore, another Advisory Council member of Shuchona Foundation and a self-advocate, emphasized on the need for inclusion while formulating strategies to achieve UHC. For instance, to address the needs of persons on the Autism spectrum, one must understand the challenges that people on the spectrum face in general. This would help formulate more effective and inclusive strategies.
After the conclusion of the Technical Segment, during interventions from the audience, speakers said there was much to learn from the Bangladeshi healthcare provision model, and there are other effective models such as Japan where UHC contributed to the country’s overall development. It was acknowledged that women and girls with disabilities are 10 times more likely to experience sexual violence; and face significant barrier to access information, education, and services.
