UN High-Level Meetings 2023: How should Germany position itself on Global Health?
Non-state actors in dialogue with federal ministries in preparation for the United Nations High-Level Health Meetings in New York in September 2023.
2023 is an important year for global health and sustainable development worldwide. At the halfway point of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its goals, the United Nations is convening a mid-term review, the "SDG-Summit", in September 2023. In addition, the United Nations General Assembly initiated three United Nations High-Level Meetings (UNHMLs) on health in New York. Health is high on the political agenda of world leaders, not least because of the Covid-19 pandemic and its devastating impact. But will this political attention lead to new commitments and closer cooperation for global health?
In order to provide impetus from the non-governmental area for the federal governments’ preparation of the UNHLMs on "Universal Health Coverage" (UHC), Tuberculosis (TB) and Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPR), the Global Health Hub Germany asked its members about priorities and expectations towards the German position. In a virtual meeting the written and oral feedback from members of the stakeholder groups Youth, Science, Think Tanks, Foundations, International Organizations, Federal Government Agencies, Private Sector and Civil Society was shared with the ministries in charge of the preparation.
Expectations towards the UN High-Level Meetings in New York and the German position
Non-state actors hope that the UNHLMs on health will lead to tangible measures involving marginalized groups and those affected and focusing on their needs. Structural change is needed to advance the realization of the right to health. Resilient, preventive, sustainable and equitable health services and systems shall be the prime concern of all health-related meetings. Strengthened health systems are the key for Universal Health Coverage, the prevention of infectious diseases and pandemics and other health-related sustainability goals. In order to contain tuberculosis, universal access to equitable, people-centered TB services is needed.
To ensure that commitments do not remain empty phrases financial commitments are essential, as well as concrete action plans, indicators and annual monitoring. The finance ministries shall be at the negotiating table and links between health and economic growth shall be stressed. Above all, the German position shall not only consider national interests, but elevate inclusiveness of decision making and close cooperation between states. At the same time, progress on controversial issues shall be achieved. The pursuit of global justice has to be underpinned by global solidarity of all states. In addition, Germany should work for a more efficient global health architecture. With regard to private sector cooperation a strong, controlling public sector is expected in order to be able to meet local needs worldwide. The links between climate change and health should be brought in and coherence with other high-level processes, such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference, shall be achieved. The promotion of digital technologies and data shall take the human rights dimension of the use of health data into account. Meaningful participation of non-state actors in health policy making shall be strengthened at the various levels. Furthermore, the German government could include non-state actors in the German delegation to the UNHMLs on health. Due to the coordinated, united presence of the EU countries at the High-Level Meetings on health, an exchange with the non-state actors at this level deem to be necessary as well.
Reaction of the ministries and presentation of the plans of the Federal Government
The representatives of the Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Nations in New York welcomed the exchange with the non-state actors in preparation for the UNHLMs on Universal Health Coverage, tuberculosis and pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The priorities and cross-cutting issues raised by non-state actors were broadly supported and endorsed by the ministries. The ministries also consider the greatest possible coherence and complementarity of high-level health meetings and processes in other forums (G7, G20) to be important goals. Ideally, the UNHLMs provide important intermediate steps for a less fragmented global health policy. In addition, the responsible ministries will focus on the prioritization and financing of UHC by governments worldwide, on structures and financing of pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (e.g. successor structure for ACT-A/COVAX, the Global Medical Countermeasures Coordination Platform, the strengthening of the WHO, the Pandemic Fund, the International Pandemic Agreement), TB vaccine development, the containment of antimicrobial resistance and a feminist foreign and development policy.
Preparatory and negotiation process within the framework of the UN High-Level Meetings
The ministries provided insights into the ongoing preparation and negotiation process. All ministries are committed to a coherent global health policy and want to make the best possible use of synergy, thematically and in terms of other ongoing global processes. They informed that in New York the main goals are political attention and momentum for global health at the highest political level. The language adopted here has an impact on negotiations in other contexts. Follow-up processes conducted for example by the World Health Organization will build on and consolidate these results. The ministries hope for political momentum that promotes cross-sectoral cooperation for global health, gives parallel processes a coherent direction and promotes important issues. For example, the process of an international pandemic agreement is not progressing as quickly as hoped. A boost is urgently needed.
What's next?
The ministries are taking up the inputs from the non-state actors in the national coordination talks. The proposals to include non-state actors in the German delegation to the UNHLMs on health and to convene an exchange with non-state actors at EU level will be pursued. The Federal Ministry of Health invited all participants to share innovative ideas on how to accelerate the implementation of commitments by governments.
As part of the United Nations preparatory process for the health-related UNHLMs in September 2023, the President of the UN General Assembly will host "multi-stakeholder hearings" in May. The hearings will provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to share their perspective on urgent measures to advance global health. A summary report of the hearings will feed into the 2023 Political Declaration.
The Global Health Hub Germany will keep you updated!
If you want to get more detailed information about the health topics of the UN High-Level Meetings, the non-govermental actors have the following reading recommendations for you: