WHO Director-General's speech at closed-door session of UHC High-Level Forum – 6 December 2025

Thank you Professor Takemi,

My thanks to Japan for its hospitality, leadership and partnership.

It's very encouraging to see so many health and finance leaders here. Your commitment and leadership show that health is not only an end in itself, but also the foundation of development and economic growth.

As I said last night, while we have seen enormous advances in global health over the past 25 years, progress towards UHC has largely stalled.

Kickstarting progress will require transformative shifts in financing, collaboration and leadership.

First, financing for health needs to target the most cost-effective investments, with primary health care placed at the centre.

At a time of scarcity, resources must go towards the best buys for health, especially primary health care, which can deliver 90% of the services people need.

Crucially, health financing must be aligned with national priorities and channelled through government systems.

When I was Minister of Health, almost all the donors agreed to put their money in one basket and let us use the money based on the national priority.

Most of the money went to maternal and child health, because at that time, maternal and child mortality was very high. This is why maternal and under five mortality declined.

That is the advantage of country ownership, knowing your priority and addressing the most important challenge in your country.

Second, for this to happen, there needs to be true collaboration between major financing and norm-setting institutions at the global levels and between ministries of health and finance at the national level.

We should also take into account that the political commitment comes from the top. The role of the President or the Prime Minister is important when there is disagreement between the Minister of Health and Finance.

And third, both of these shifts in financing and collaboration require genuine leadership, globally and nationally, to reorient domestic priorities towards UHC.

The UHC Knowledge Hub, which we are launching today, embodies these principles of renewed leadership, collaboration and financing.

It is now a matter of action, action and action.

It can be the vehicle for bridging ministries of health and finance, mobilizing political commitment and building capacity in countries.

Minister Katayama and Minister Ueno, we deeply appreciate your leadership and support in hosting this Forum and the UHC Knowledge Hub.

Japan's example - achieving UHC for the whole population with high levels of financial protection - continues to inspire countries around the world.

Japan's international development work through JICA is a model of responsible technical assistance and financing, both critical in helping countries move towards sustainable UHC.

Today's dialogue is an important early step toward the UN High-Level Meeting on UHC in 2027 and shaping an ambitious post-2030 vision.

At the same time, we must step up our emphasis on self-reliance in health financing, and on making health systems more sustainable.

The partnership between ministries of health and finance will be increasingly important - to prioritize health in government budgets, and meet the needs of the poorest.

Thank you all for your continued commitment to realising the vision of UHC, and to health for all.

Arigato gozaimasu. I thank you.