The United Nations General Assembly set to hold a High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage (UHC), there has been a surge in ambitious initiatives by civil society organizations to advocate for the importance of UHC for different stakeholders. This is particularly important as there are currently 1.8 billion young people worldwide, making it one of the largest demographic groups.
To leverage the power of youth in strengthening global health security and promoting healthier communities, the International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation (IPSF) and the International Federation of Medical Students' Association (IFMSA), as leading young health professional organizations, are planning a session during the World Health Summit 2023 to reflect on the outcomes of the High-Level Meetings on Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (Pandemic PPR) and on the fight against Tuberculosis.
This session will specifically focus on sharing critical perspectives and the vision of youth in accelerating progress towards UHC and harnessing the power of innovation and technologies for Global Health Security, which are central topics in achieving health equity. The urgency for digital transformations in global health is a key concern for young people, and the session aims to bring together youth and stakeholders to brainstorm innovative solutions and crucial action points post-discussions at the High-Level Meetings during the United Nations General Assembly. The IPSF and IFMSA intend to reflect on how youth can be involved in the implementation process of the declarations and position them as active contributors to the achievement of UHC and the resilience of health systems.