The United Nations is set to hold a high-level meeting on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in New York next September 23 to secure political and financial commitments from the heads of state, government representatives and health experts present. It is hoped that participants will be able to issue a policy statement on UHC.

The event will focus on accelerating countries’ progress towards UHC, ensuring access to basic health services and high-quality medicines, training health professionals and providing financial assistance to citizens. The event will mark a milestone in the WHO’s progress towards fulfilling its strategic plan for the next five years, which includes providing UHC to one billion people.

Chaired by the UN General Assembly President, María Fernanda Espinosa, in collaboration with officials of the World Health Organization (WHO, the summit will also be coordinated by Georgia and Thailand’s representatives to the UN, Kaha Imnadze and Vitavas Srivihok, respectively.