Constituency Statement: 152nd Session of the Executive Board

WONCA joins the constituency statement delivered by the World Heart Federation on behalf of  the Coalition for Circulatory Health. Along the World Organization of Family Doctors, the coallition  includes the Framework Convention Alliance on Tobacco Control, International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations, International Diabetes Federation, International Society of Hypertension, International Society of Nephrology, World Hypertension League, and the World Stroke Organization.

The statement is in response to the World Health Organization's Report EB 152/5 and underscores the critical importance of reorienting health systems towards primary health care as a resilient foundation for universal health coverage. The statement will be presented at the United Nations General Assembly's high-level meeting on universal health coverage, emphasizing the role of primary health care in achieving equitable access to quality health services for all.


Download the Complete Statement on PDF

152nd Session of the Executive Board, 30 January-7 February 2023

Agenda item 5: Universal Health Coverage

Reorienting health systems to primary health care as a resilient foundation for universal health coverage and preparations for a high-level meeting on the United Nations General Assembly on universal health coverage (EB152/5)
Response to WHO Report EB 152/5: https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB152/B152_5-en.pdf

This constituency statement is delivered by the World Heart Federation on behalf of the Framework Convention Alliance on Tobacco Control, International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations, International Diabetes Federation, International Society of Hypertension, International Society of Nephrology, World Hypertension League, World Organization of Family Doctors, and the World Stroke Organization. 

Honorable Chair, Distinguished Delegates, 

Thank you for the opportunity to deliver this statement on behalf of the Global Coalition for Circulatory Health. 

We note with disappointment the report by the Director-General recognizing that the world is not on track to achieve SDG 3 targets but welcome the valuable guidance to Member States through the four priority areas of action.

Circulatory diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and kidney disease, are the number one cause of death and disability worldwide, leading to more than 20 million deaths and 374 million healthy years of life lost every year. 

In the absence of UHC, the chronic nature of circulatory disease has a catastrophic impact on a country's development and is responsible for generational poverty experienced in many LMICs. As highlighted in the report, ninety per cent of essential interventions for UHC can be delivered through primary health care. Therefore, the Global Coalition for Circulatory Health calls on Member States to: 

• Accelerate progress towards UHC through robust and well-financed primary health care systems, including investments in family medicines where appropriate, based on the principles of quality, equity, accessibility and affordability;
• Ensure adequate and sustained financing for and availability of circulatory health services, in the context of national UHC strategies; including for prevention, acute and chronic treatments as well as rehabilitation, additionally incorporating digital innovations in circulatory health;
• Include cost-effective circulatory health interventions that also address their risk factors into national UHC packages of essential interventions to be delivered at primary health care level, drawing on examples from Appendix 3 of the WHO Global NCD Action Plan and the HEARTS Technical Package; and
• Engage people living with NCDs and circulatory conditions to keep UHC people-centered.

Finally, we would also like to extend our support for the Resolution on diagnostics and request Member States to consider it for the upcoming 76th WHA. Implementation of these recommendations can contribute significantly to reducing the burden of circulator diseases and bring poverty alleviation.

Thank you.

Constituency members: 
1. Framework Convention Alliance on Tobacco Control (FCA)
2. International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO)
3. International Diabetes Federation (IDF)
4. International Society of Hypertension (ISH)
5. International Society of Nephrology (ISN)
6. World Heart Federation (WHF)
7. World Hypertension League (WHL)
8. World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA)
9. World Stroke Organization (WSO)