Lessons on the COVID-19 pandemic, for and by primary care professionals worldwide

During the early stage of the pandemic, primary care continued as the first point of contact to the health system but was poorly informed by policy makers on how to fulfil its role and ill equipped to provide care while protecting staff and patients against further spread of the infection. The pandemic presents important lessons to strengthen health systems through better connection between public health, primary care, and secondary care to cope better with future waves of this and other pandemics.

Primary health care: transforming vision into action

Marking the two-year anniversary of the Declaration of Astana, this event, hosted by WHO, UNICEF and the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan, brings together national experiences from across the globe to launch the operational framework and discuss its relevance for strengthening PHC both in the COVID-19 pandemic context and as part of building better.

 Agenda:

11:00 – 12:00 Ministerial Plenary Session (streamed in the six UN languages)

• Welcome & opening remarks - H.E. Alexey Tsoi, Minister of Healthcare of Kazakstan
• WHO Remarks - Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO
• UNICEF Remarks - Dr Henrietta Fore, Executive Director
• Presentation of PHC Operational Framework - Dr Suraya Dalil, Director, Special Programme on PHC
• Ministerial Panel – moderator: Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe
• Featuring Ministers of Health
• Reflections on two years since the Declaration of Astana - Zsuzsanna Jakab, Deputy Director-General, WHO

Participants will be able to join one of five roundtable discussions focusing on ...

Learning from the Pandemic to Improve Care for Vulnerable Communities: The Perspectives and Recommendations from the Rare Disease Community

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about health and social care disruptions for millions of people with complex health needs and disabilities, who are amongst the most vulnerable populations. More than ever before, the need for integrated care is pressing, as fragmented health and care systems struggle to face the pandemic and vulnerable individuals are exposed to aggravated health, social and economic hurdles. The implementation of effective integrated care pathways is long due and must build upon the key guidelines being published by experts worldwide. Furthermore, the pandemic is opening the doors for more remote healthcare and care coordination, with both services and care receivers being increasingly more receptive to virtual and digital solutions, so long as they are fit for purpose and do improve care.

In this article we will go over the impact that the pandemic has had so far for the community of people living with a rare ...

Disrupting health inequity and injustice through partnership

Geneva Health Forum "Covid-19 Pandemic and Environmental Emergency: Reinventing Global Health in Times of Global Change"

Geneva Health Forum, 3rd to 5th May 2022: "Covid-19 Pandemic and Environmental Emergency: Reinventing Global Health in Times of Global Change"
 
The Geneva Health Forum (GHF) brings us together around major global health issues. It gives a voice to actors from the field and bridges them with policy-makers present in Geneva. It gives visibility to innovative, accessible and sustainable practices and tools and to important initiatives. After more than 15 years of existence, the GHF has become a crucial event in the field of global health.
 
For its 9th edition, which will take place from 3rd to 5th May 2022, #GHF2022 will address crucial issues for our future. Under the theme “Covid-19 Pandemic and Environmental Emergency: Reinventing Global Health in Times of Global Changes”, the GHF will help us learn the lessons from the Covid-19 crisis and better understand the impact of environmental degradation on human health.
 
Indeed, the Covid-19 ...

Strengthening the primary care workforce to deliver high-quality care for non-communicable diseases in refugee settings: lessons learnt from a UNHCR partnership

Non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention and care in humanitarian contexts has been a long-neglected issue. Healthcare systems in humanitarian settings have focused heavily on communicable diseases and immediate life-saving health needs. NCDs are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in refugee settings, however, in many situations NCD care is not well integrated into primary healthcare services. Increased risk of poorer outcomes from COVID-19 for people living with NCDs has heightened the urgency of responding to NCDs and shone a spotlight on their relative neglect in these settings.

UN General Assembly Third annual ministerial meeting on Universal Health Coverage: investing in health systems strengthening through a primary health care-oriented approach

The UN General Assembly is the main policy-making organ of the Organization. Comprising all Member States, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations.

This year’s discussions will focus on addressing the various challenges the world faces, including the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges call for global action, and the General Assembly is a critical opportunity for all to come together and chart a course for the future.

As we look to strengthen health systems in the wake of COVID-19, re-orientation of resources toward primary health care and essential public health functions will be critical for the achievement of UHC and the health-related SDGs.

This event, hosted within the UN General Assembly, is organized by the Co-chairs of the Group of Friends of UHC and Global Health (Georgia, Japan, Thailand), WHO, UHC2030, IFRC, UN Foundation ...