Global Health Alliance Launches to Promote Investments in Health Systems

Strategic Insights -

The World Health Organization, in collaboration with the World Bank Group and the Government of Japan, has launched the Health Works Leaders Coalition, a global alliance aimed at promoting investments in health systems as a strategy for economic growth, job creation, and improved resilience. This coalition is part of the broader Health Works initiative, which aims to help countries reach 1.5 billion people with quality, affordable health services by 2030.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Health Works Leaders Coalition is a global alliance of health and finance ministers, philanthropic organizations, business leaders, leaders of global health agencies, and civil society representatives, with the goal of promoting investments in health systems.
  • The coalition is central to the Health Works initiative, which has set a target of reaching 1.5 billion people with quality, affordable health services by 2030.
  • An initial group of 21 countries will develop National Health Compacts, government-led agreements that will lay out bold reforms, investment priorities, shared accountability, and unlock resources for expanding access to quality, affordable healthcare.
  • Reform priorities range from free health checkups and expansion of health insurance in Indonesia to developing a pharmaceutical strategy in Mexico aimed at creating 60,000 jobs through private sector partnerships.
  • The first compacts, representing a range of income levels and geographic regions, are scheduled for formal launch at the UHC High-Level Forum in Tokyo in December 2025.

Statistics:

  • The Health Works initiative aims to reach 1.5 billion people with quality, affordable health services by 2030.
  • 21 countries have been selected to develop National Health Compacts as part of the Health Works Leaders Coalition.
  • The initial National Health Compact countries include: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cote D'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Philippines, Saint Lucia, Sierra Leone, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Zambia.
  • The UHC Knowledge Hub, launched in Tokyo, will support national policy-makers from developing countries through capacity-building and knowledge sharing.

Sources:

  • World Health Organization, "Launch of Health Works Leaders Coalition"
  • World Bank Group, "Health Works Initiative"
  • Government of Japan, "Launch of UHC Knowledge Hub"
  • WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Global Health Magazine, 2023) (no date provided)
  • World Bank Group President, Ajay Banga (World Bank, 2023) (no date provided)