UN Urges Global Investment Boost for Equitable Healthcare Access
New York City, Wednesday, 2 April 2025.
The UN highlights the urgency for increased global health system investments to address healthcare inequities and sustain development goals, emphasizing their critical role in tackling present and future global health challenges.
Critical Healthcare Gaps and Current Challenges
Recent data reveals alarming healthcare disparities worldwide, with approximately 12.8 million displaced people, including 6.3 million children, at risk of losing access to vital health interventions in 2025 [1]. The situation is particularly dire in regions like Bangladesh, where funding cuts threaten essential healthcare services for nearly one million Rohingya refugees, including critical antenatal care for over 40,000 pregnant women [1]. Global maternal health statistics remain concerning, with close to 300,000 women dying annually from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications [2].
Progress and Setbacks in Global Health
Despite challenges, some progress has been made in global health initiatives. Currently, 146 out of 200 countries are on track to meet SDG targets for under-5 mortality, and HIV-related deaths have decreased by 52% since 2010 [3]. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impeded progress, leading to the largest decline in childhood vaccinations in three decades [3]. The WHO reports that air pollution remains a critical health concern, causing seven million premature deaths annually and ranking as the second leading global risk factor for disease [4].
Investment Priorities and Future Outlook
Looking ahead to World Health Day on April 7, 2025, the WHO is launching a year-long campaign titled ‘Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures’ [5]. This initiative aims to address the fact that approximately 80% of countries are currently off track to meet maternal survival targets by 2030 [5]. The Global Health Workforce Network emphasizes the critical role of comprehensive health workforce policies in achieving universal health coverage [6]. This multi-stakeholder approach involves coordination between ministries of health, education, labor, and finance, alongside professional associations and regulatory authorities [6].