Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at International UHC Day Reception co-hosted by the Group of Friends of UHC and Global Health and the World Health Organization

Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
As we celebrate International UHC Day, I would like to express my deep congratulations to each one of you on the successful adoption of the political declaration of the High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage, which the Secretary-General called “the most comprehensive agreement ever reached on global health”.
 
As the chair of the Group of Friends of UHC and Global Health, I am grateful that the Group, which was announced exactly one year ago with a handful of Member States, has now grown to include more than 50 members, building momentum and contributing to the High-Level Meeting.
 
As Prime Minister Abe stated in an article today co-authored with the Director-General of the WHO, Japan emphasizes the importance of achieving UHC globally, building on its own experience of managing UHC as a key to socio-economic development and to a healthy ageing society. Japan has sought to promote UHC both bilaterally and through global fora including international organizations, the G7 and most recently through the G20 presidency.
 
Last week in Afghanistan, Dr. Tetsu Nakamura, a Japanese medical doctor, was among those killed in a tragic incident. My deepest condolences. Dr. Nakamura dedicated his life for more than 30 years in the mountainous areas of Afghanistan to serving the needs of most marginalized and vulnerable people, who had little access to health, water and nutrition. His dedication embodies the core concept of human security, which is to leave no one behind. His legacy will continue to inspire tireless efforts around the world towards UHC thereby achieving SDGs.
 
 
Now, it is time for us to deliver on our leaders’ commitments. The Group of Friends will now be co-chaired by Japan together with the co-facilitators of the High Level Meeting on UHC, Thailand and Georgia, and we continue to welcome new members and new ideas. We will leverage relevant milestones, including the Second UHC Forum in Thailand in January and the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit in December 2020, towards the High Level Review Meeting on UHC here in New York in 2023.
 
Let us indeed “keep the promise” to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
 
Congratulations again.