A/HRC/36/20
build resilient health systems. They emphasized the need for equity, mutual respect and
solidarity to overcome economic imbalances. Several delegations asked how United
Nations funds and programmes could give practical effect to the achievement of the right to
development in order to create global capacity in the area of public health. Dr. Ren
particularly emphasized that health was relevant to all social and economic development,
and that therefore all United Nations agencies, funds and programmes should work together
to support capacity-building at the country level.
36.
A number of States described their experiences and best practices in ensuring
universal health care. They included Georgia, which launched its universal health-care
system in 2013, providing State-funded health-care coverage for all citizens. Participants
similarly heard how the national health policy of Haiti was based on universality, equity
and quality. In El Salvador, the levels of maternal mortality had reportedly been reduced
and the country had already achieved target 3.1 of the Sustainable Development Goals.
According to the delegate, 98 per cent of births took place in hospitals with qualified staff.
El Salvador had also reduced the levels of chronic malnutrition by 42 per cent, through
school meals programmes for 1.3 million schoolchildren, and provided vouchers for
pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children with anaemia. Several countries also
highlighted their role in promoting international cooperation. Qatar, for instance, had
hosted an annual global health summit.
III. Conclusions
37.
In their final remarks, all the panellists highlighted the importance of universal
health systems for realizing the right to health for all without discrimination, drawing
particular attention to the situation in China and Cuba, including their provision of
international assistance. Panellists also emphasized the centrality of the right to health
and universal health-care systems to the realization of all the Sustainable
Development Goals and in making sure that no one was left behind. Several panellists
also underscored the need for a multisectoral approach, moving beyond separate
agendas, and a focus on the groups living in the most vulnerable situations, including
refugees and migrants.
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