Building Trust for Global Health

Today, global health faces unprecedented challenges due to different but convergent political, social, economic, and environmental factors. These questions include political polarization, disinformation and misinformation, especially on social media, climate change and conflict, that lead to the increase of migration flows, and economic inequalities within and between countries.

Besides these global challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic and the perception that health institutions were not prepared to face it have deeply eroded trust in institutions, including healthcare systems.

This erosion of trust weakens public health initiatives and raises doubts about the efforts needed to tackle global health crises and achieve health for all. Members of Parliament, as representatives of different sectors of society, play a critical role in rebuilding trust both in health and political institutions.

In recent years, the global community and international organizations have placed an increasing focus on the human rights impacts of drug policies. Drug control efforts seriously undermine human rights in many countries, emphasizing the need for a new approach to drug policy at the global, regional and national levels.

While evidence and guidance from international organizations has long recommended shifting the focus of drug policies from law enforcement to public health approaches, many jurisdictions continue to enforce criminal sanctions on people who use drugs. The criminalization of drug use has exacerbated stigma and discrimination and hindered access to critical health and harm reduction services for people who use drugs; and global drug enforcement continues to have a detrimental impact on the enjoyment of human rights by all.

In this Parliamentary Inquiry, case studies of drug policy reform initiatives will be presented, focusing on opportunities and challenges of implementation at the national, regional and international levels. Expert speakers and participants will highlight how change is possible and what it means to implement a human rights framework in drug policies on the ground, sharing important lessons learned and practical steps parliamentarians take to inform and advance efforts across countries and levels of governance. 

Many countries are now tasked with strengthening their healthcare systems and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) have emerged as the primary cause of premature death and disability, affecting both industrialized and Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory conditions, and mental health disorders are increasing in prevalence, posing significant challenges for healthcare systems globally.

Addressing these challenges requires collaborative efforts to enhance regulatory frameworks, procurement processes and supply chains, to train healthcare professionals, to improve diagnostic and data capabilities, as well as to increase funding for NCDs management.

Research-based pharmaceutical companies are eager to expand existing collaborations with governments and other healthcare system’s stakeholders to improve outcomes for those living with NCDs. Collaborative examples such as “Access Accelerated”, the Ghana Heart Initiative (now called AYA), and many other public-private partnerships listed by the Global Health Progress and the WHO Knowledge Action Portal on NCDs, demonstrate the breadth and impact of these partnerships.

Strong collaboration, additional investments, and accelerated implementation of NCDs programs are crucial for achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

According to the World Health Organization, at least 4.5 billion people — more than half of the world’s population — lack essential health services. Financial protection has progressively deteriorated over the last 20 years, with 2 billion people experiencing financial hardship due to out-of-pocket health costs. For many, these payments lead to what is known as a ‘catastrophic cost,’ forcing individuals to forgo or delay necessary medical care. This not only prolongs illness but can also have long-term, devastating effects on health, income, and livelihoods. The consequences of this situation extend beyond individuals and families to affect governments and societies at large. As more people face health crises, nations lose valuable human capital, while long-term care and welfare support costs rise. Moreover, these avoidable health-related expenditures contribute to higher national healthcare costs, placing even greater pressure on public systems.

As elected representatives, Members of Parliament hold a pivotal role in addressing these challenges. Countries must translate their commitments to universal health coverage (UHC) into concrete laws, budgets, policies, and programmes aimed at reducing financial barriers to essential health services, particularly for the poorest and most vulnerable populations. Reducing financial barriers to healthcare and protecting people from the financial hardship that often accompanies illness must be priorities. Lawmakers must drive the legislative and policy reforms needed to ensure that all citizens, especially those in vulnerable and marginalized communities, have access to affordable, quality health services.