Universal Health Coverage (UHC) targets will remain unmet unless urgent steps are taken to strengthen health care by focusing on primary health care (PHC) and promoting self-care.

ISQua is proud to be part of a constituency delivering a statement at the 76th World Health Assembly under agenda item 13.1 “Reorienting health systems to primary health care as a resilient foundation for universal health coverage and preparations for a high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on universal health coverage”. The statement emphasizes the importance of multi-professionalism and self-care in primary healthcare.

Now is the time to unite the leadership of all patient advocacy and health professional organizations to invest in health promotion, prevent disease and improve the management of non-communicable diseases.

We urge Member States, the WHO and NSAs to support the call to:

1. Emphasize the urgent need to refocus on UHC.
2. Renew the commitment to comprehensive PHC as key to achieving this.
3. Support full integration of self-care into health systems to benefit individuals and society.
4. Work together to promote inter-professional and interdisciplinary PHC teamwork.
5. Create resilient PHC services where self-care is nurtured and no discipline works in isolation.

WONCA’s President, Anna Stavdal, will deliver the statement at the WHA on behalf of the constituency.

Non-State Actors supporting this statement:

1. Aga Khan Foundation

2. Global Self-Care Federation

3. International Federation on Ageing (IFA)

4. International Hospital Federation (IHF)

5. International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)

6. International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua)

7. International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth (ISfTeH)

8. World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT)

9. World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA)

10. World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA)

You can read the full statement here - #WHA76 - PHC & SelfCare Constituency Statement or on the non-State actor statements website: https://extranet.who.int/nonstateactorsstatements/.

The Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 21–30 May 2023. The theme of this year’s Health Assembly is: WHO at 75: Saving lives, driving health for all. The sessions can be watched live on 21-30 May 2023 https://www.who.int/about/governance/world-health-assembly/seventy-sixth-world-health-assembly.

The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO. It is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget. The Health Assembly is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland.