Press Releases
Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu co-hosted the High-Level Side Event on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) on the Margins of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly
September 30, 2021
On September 30, commencing at around 9:00 p.m., Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan co-hosted the High-Level Side Event on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) on the Margins of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in virtual form. The overview of the event is as follows.
- This event was held to discuss cooperation and collaboration on the global health in order to achieve UHC with the prospect of the UNGA High-Level Meeting (HLM) on UHC in 2023, in which year Japan will take on the G7 presidency. The attendees of the event shared lessons learned in response to the COVID-19 pandemic including on vaccination and health system, and discussed the importance to promote UHC through strengthening resilient and equitable health systems as well as primary health care toward the High-Level Meeting.
- Minister MOTEGI stated that overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic as well as preparedness for future pandemics must be realized through our efforts towards achieving UHC, explaining Japan's contributions to ensure equitable access to vaccines all over the world including through financial commitment to COVAX AMC, dose-sharing of vaccines and “Last One-Mile Support”for the delivery of vaccines to each and every person. Minister MOTEGI also emphasized the importance to achieve a more resilient UHC in the post-COVID-19 era and the necessity of multi-disciplinary partnerships in broader areas, not limited to the health sector alone, expressing Japan's determination to achieve UHC.
- The attendees of the event included H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand (co-host), H.E. Ms. Tamar Gabunia, Deputy Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia (co-host), Health Ministers and high-level officials from other countries, together with H.E. Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr. Tedros Adhanom, Director-General of WHO, and representative from other international organizations as well as civil society.