The post-2015 challenge: A short report on the Singapore Ministerial Meeting Defining the role of universal health coverage (UHC) in the post- 2015 sustainable development agenda is a key topic of interest for WHO and many countries globally. Singapore hosted a Ministerial Meeting on Universal Health Coverage on 10–11 February 2015 in order to galvanise support for UHC efforts, to deepen and broaden the conversation around UHC, and to build the knowledge and enablers necessary for its implementation. The meeting was attended by ministers and high-level representatives from 16 countries, including six member states of the Commonwealth (Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore). The Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong, gave the opening address and the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Margaret Chan, delivered the keynote speech. During the one-and-a-half-day meeting, alongside a ministerial roundtable session, four main panels were convened, comprising academic speakers’ presentations and individual countries’ experiences as presented by ministerial delegates and robust discussion sessions. The panels focused on key issues around implementing UHC: 122 Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015 1. Infrastructure, Manpower and Financing for Delivery of Universal Health Coverage 2. Ensuring Access for All: Social Determinants, Provision and Financing 3. Challenges for Ageing and Fiscal Sustainability for Universal Health Coverage 4. Non-Communicable Diseases and Universal Health Coverage The following are several key insights that emerged from the meeting. While common challenges – such as rapidly ageing populations and an increasing burden of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – that will increase demand for health services exist, health and health financing systems to deliver UHC can be diverse, and must be designed to meet the unique challenges and opportunities facing individual countries. They should be tailored to the social, economic and health context of each country, and designed to be affordable and sustainable. A multi-sectoral approach is needed to tackle sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets, to reduce risk factors for NCDs. Pictured: Joggers in Singapore’s downtown area – the country is recognised as one of the best cities in Asia for running Joyfull / Shutterstock.com
Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015
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