Age International responds to the 2023 High Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage

Important steps were made towards truly inclusive Universal Health Coverage (UHC) at the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting, but the UK government missed an opportunity to demonstrate global political leadership.

The UHC Political Declaration, agreed on by all UN Member States at the Meeting, recognises healthy, active ageing and addresses the growing needs of older people. The Declaration also focuses on how climate change disproportionally affects those in low- and middle-income countries.

Earlier in September, Age International - supported by the UK public - called on the government to use their leadership to ensure older people were included in UHC commitments at the Meeting. While older people’s needs have been included in the Declaration, the lack of UK ministerial intervention at the Meeting was a missed opportunity to show full political leadership on a global stage.

We will be watching how governments fulfil the Universal Health Coverage commitments, and how they turn words into meaningful action. Now the health needs of older people have been recognised, it is essential that the Declaration kickstarts progress so that everyone, everywhere, has access to affordable healthcare.