WHO virtual leadership dialogue on social participation

Nov 25, 2021 01:30 PM CET

As emphasized by the Director-General during the DG-Civil Society Dialogue on Social Participation and Accountability, community and civil society engagement is essential for achieving UHC. In Dr Tedros´ own words, “empower[ing] community ownership, enhanc[ing] participatory governance, rebuild[ing] trust in public health, and strengthen[ing] global solidarity” is absolutely critical for “every area of health, and especially in making progress towards universal health coverage”.

The Covid-19 pandemic overshadowed previously achieved health system strengthening milestones and laid bare the dire need to design responsive and fit for purpose health policy measures. Meaningful progress towards UHC is thus only possible by systematically bringing in people’s voice into decision- and policy-making.

The Handbook on Social Participation for UHC, in line with the GPW 13, output 1.1.4, provides decision-makers with a practical resource to create, strengthen and institutionalize social participation mechanisms for UHC. The Handbook provides insights into how participatory spaces can be established even in politically, socially, and geographically challenging contexts.

The Department of Health Systems Governance and Financing, through its webinar series platform, and together with the UHC Partnership and UHC2030, is organizing a WHO-internal panel discussion to explore together with WRs, Health System Directors and technical advisors how the recommendations of the Handbook on Social Participation for UHC can be implemented in countries and in programmatic contexts. Panelists will discuss challenges and describe practical solutions to leverage social participation mechanisms for UHC and what role WHO Country Offices can and should play in this regard.