WHA78 constituency statement on universal health coverage (UHC) and primary healthcare (PHC)
On 24 May 2025 at the 78th session of the World Health Assembly, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) delivered a statement on behalf of the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) on UHC and PHC.
Four organisations supporting this statement are members of the World Health Professions Alliance, representing over 41 million dentists, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists and physicians.
UHC is integral to achieving health for all yet progress is threatened by massive funding cuts currently ravaging the global health ecosystem, compounding the deleterious effects of long-term de-prioritization of health services by governments.
Global health workforce shortages persist, albeit uneven progress, and recent funding cuts have caused job losses and significant training disruptions. This risks migration of qualified staff and difficult working conditions and higher risks of workplace violence for remaining staff, threatening the achievement of UHC and PHC.
The resolution “Strengthening health financing globally” seeks to orient health financing towards a more sustainable and efficient model. Investing in health professionals is a cost-effective solution because they can ensure consistent and safe care delivery through evidence-based practices delivered within strict regulatory frameworks and codes of ethics. In unregulated environments, there is an increased risk of inconsistent care, errors, and compromised patient safety. The inevitable downstream costs far outweigh the investment in a highly-educated health professional workforce.
Interprofessional collaboration, outlined in WHPA’s policy statement, can help reduce healthcare costs by minimising duplication, preventing errors and improving continuity of care through multidisciplinary teamwork.
As policy makers seek efficiencies in health financing, we emphasize that long-term investments in health professionals are a cost-effective intervention to deliver improved patient outcomes and progress towards UHC.1
a joint statement BY:
About IFPMA
IFPMA represents the innovative pharmaceutical industry at the international level, engaging in official relations with the United Nations and multilateral organizations. Our vision is to ensure that scientific progress translates into the next generation of medicines and vaccines that deliver a healthier future for people everywhere.
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To achieve this, we act as a trusted partner, bringing our members' expertise to champion pharmaceutical innovation, drive policy that supports the research, development, and delivery of health technologies, and create sustainable solutions that advance global health.
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