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. 

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is crucial for improving global health, yet patient perspectives are often overlooked. Engaging patient groups is essential to address health disparities and ensure that policies reflect the needs of all populations, particularly for liver cancer, where early diagnosis and equitable access are critical. This inquiry will provide a platform for parliamentarians to discuss how patient inclusion and preventive measures—such as vaccinations, public health campaigns, and early detection—can improve outcomes for liver cancer patients. 

Liver cancer is frequently diagnosed too late, partly due to limited access to early detection tools and stigma linked to lifestyle factors or infectious diseases like hepatitis. This session will explore policies to reduce stigma, promote patient participation in UHC, and create an inclusive, rights-based healthcare system that prioritizes equitable access to care for all. 

The urgent need for a more robust global health system has become increasingly clear in the face of emerging threats. Strengthening health architecture involves fostering international collaboration, investing in resilient infrastructure, and integrating innovative technologies. Comprehensive health security measures are crucial for enhancing preparedness and response capabilities.

A global pandemic agreement is essential to ensure coordinated responses and equitable distribution of resources during health crises. Equitable access to healthcare is essential for ensuring sustainable health outcomes, enabling communities worldwide to effectively navigate future challenges and protect public health.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a growing threat to healthcare, endangering critical treatments like surgeries, cancer care, and safe childbirth. AMR already causes over 1.27 million deaths annually, contributing to nearly 5 million more. Addressing this requires urgent action, including sustainable funding, better access to antibiotics, and investment in research and development (R&D). Without these measures, progress in healthcare could be reversed.

Sepsis, closely tied to AMR, is responsible for nearly 14 million deaths each year but remains under-prioritized globally. The 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis, supported by UNITE and other global partners, calls for a coordinated response to combat both AMR and sepsis. This inquiry will explore policies that integrate efforts to address these twin threats, ensuring stronger health systems and better global health outcomes. 

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.

Digital health transformation has become an intrinsic part of revolutionizing health systems to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals. Health data is a vital asset and the foundation of 21st century health systems, enabling AI; supporting healthcare professionals; strengthening equitable and resilient health systems; improving health emergency and pandemic response; empowering individuals to achieve their personal health goals; and ultimately enhancing healthcare delivery and outcomes, towards UHC goals. AI in the health sector, both for development of tools and use should be guided by ethical considerations which are aligned with human rights.Without strong political leadership, progress remains an elusive goal.

Robust legislative and governance framework must, therefore, accompany this rampant innovation to ensure that digital health interventions and AI are used safely, equitably, ethically and with transparency and ensure digital health transformation is equitable, inclusive, rights-based and sustainable. Parliamentarians are uniquely positioned to support this and to propel governments to strengthen legislative and regulatory frameworks for digital health and health data governance; and will lay a significant role in balancing related regulatory frameworks to govern the use of AI in health and translate the global principles and guidelines into their national-level health policies and regulatory systems.

This Parliamentary Inquiry aims to understand the opportunity brought by digital health, including AI and health data and what is needed to mitigate risks and build trust to harness their use to strengthen health systems, equity and outcomes. It will also delve deeper into opportunities to advance towards more robust data governance approaches, with a focus on legislative and governance aspects, and comprehend the potential of AI in health and role of different stakeholders in AI governance to strengthen health systems and ensure progress towards UHC wider health goals.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose a significant and growing challenge in Africa, accounting for an increasing burden of morbidity and mortality. Conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and respiratory illnesses are exacerbated by factors like urbanization, lifestyle changes, limited healthcare infrastructure, and a lack of awareness and early detection programs. The private sector plays a critical role in addressing these challenges by fostering public-private partnerships, investing in healthcare infrastructure, and promoting access to affordable medicines and technologies. Additionally, private companies can contribute through corporate social responsibility initiatives that support health education, preventive care programs, and innovative solutions to strengthen health systems, ultimately improving the capacity to combat NCDs across the continent. 

Indeed, building durable multisectoral coalitions of legislators, civil society, academics, the private sector and other parts of government, have been seen to be a major contributing factor in countries where more resources are being devoted to NCDs and mental health, such as in Chile or the Philippines. 

Members of Parliament also play a vital role by advocating for stronger health policies, ensuring budget allocations for NCD prevention and treatment, and creating an enabling regulatory environment that encourages private sector involvement in addressing these health issues.  

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.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has successfully immunized over 1 billion children in low- and middle-income countries, significantly reducing vaccine- preventable diseases. As a global public-private partnership, Gavi emphasizes the critical need for sustainable investments in immunization, calling on parliamentarians to play a pivotal role in maintaining and scaling these efforts. 

At the UNITE Global Summit, Gavi highlights the importance of strengthening health systems and enhancing local vaccine production capacity. By prioritizing immunization in public policies and budgets, parliamentarians can help ensure equitable vaccine access and build resilience against future pandemics, ultimately contributing to global health security. 

Since the 1980s, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has shifted from a global health crisis to a manageable condition, thanks to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and global initiatives like UNAIDS’ 90-90-90 targets. Despite these advances, barriers to universal access and ongoing stigma continue to hinder progress, particularly in marginalized communities. 

Looking beyond 2030, advocacy will be key to sustaining progress, addressing inequalities, and ensuring HIV remains a priority. Efforts will focus on combating stigma, securing equitable treatment access, and integrating HIV into broader health systems while maintaining global attention and funding. 

As the UNITE Global Summit 2024 concludes, it is imperative to reflect on the trajectory beyond the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the future of global health. The SDGs have provided a valuable framework for fostering sustainable development and addressing critical issues such as poverty, inequality, and health. However, as we approach the 2030 deadline, we must acknowledge that the end of the SDG era marks not a conclusion but a new beginning, one that demands renewed commitment and innovative approaches to emerging challenges.