Events

1. An event entitled “Good health at an Affordable Cost: Can All Governments afford Universal Health Coverage?” was held at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations in New York on 11 June 2014, co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Japan, France and Thailand to the United Nations in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank Group (WBG). 
2. This event was held in order to deepen understanding of UHC, which has been proposed as a comprehensive approach in the field of health in the on-going discussions to elaborate the Post-2015 Development Agenda, focusing especially on health financing. This is the second event on UHC after a previous event held on 14 April 2014. At the event, opening remarks were made by Mr. Katsuhiko Takahashi, Minister at the Permanent Mission of Japan. Speakers from several international organizations in the field of health, including Dr. David Evans, Director of Health Systems Governance & Financing, WHO, introduced the topic of financing of UHC in developing countries and WHO’s various efforts and ideas towards UHC and its financing. Representatives of civil society and a think-tank discussed the relationship between the introduction of UHC and ODA as well as the feasibility of achieving UHC in developing countries. The event was attended by about 50 people, including officials and representatives from various Permanent Missions to the United Nations, international organizations and civil society organizations. 
3. UHC is a concept that seeks to ensure that all people are able to obtain the essential health services they need without suffering financial hardship when paying for them. It is based on the core values of equity and personal protection, key elements also of the notion of Human Security, which Japan regards as important and is promoting as an integral part of its international diplomacy. Our country currently contributes to the improvement of health for people all around world by helping other countries to achieve UHC, as described in Japan’s Strategy on Global Health Diplomacy.

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• The Global Push for Universal Health Coverage
• Invitation
• Key messages from the event “Universal Health Coverage: How to implement and measure it?”
• Global Health and Foreign Policy resolution
• Monitoring progress towards universal health coverage at country and global levels, Framework, measures and targets
• The Lancet Global Health 2035, Report Overview
• The Lancet Global Health 2035, Policy Brief #2: The Returns to Investing in Health