Distinguished delegates from our Member States
Colleagues, partners and friends
I am very pleased to that we are gathered here today to discuss our collective pursuit to make health central to socio-economic wellbeing.
The global landscape is undergoing significant social, economic and environmental changes that are redefining the foundations of public health and wellbeing. These shifts require us to reassess economic structures and policies to ensure that they are effectively safeguarding and promoting health and wellbeing.
Health and prosperity are not isolated goals - they are deeply interconnected.
This is a particularly important discussion at this moment in time, when health financing is under strain around the world. We need policymakers around the world to recognize that public health financing is not a cost – it is an investment.
People are the engine of our economies. A healthy workforce is a more productive workforce, and helps build economic resilience, productivity and long-term stability.
Economic growth also, in turn, generates the resources needed to invest in robust health systems, ensuring equitable access to healthcare and improved quality of life.
Recognizing this intrinsic link, in 2024, Member States adopted the World Health Assembly resolution on the “Economics of Health for All”. This resolution builds upon the insights of the WHO Council on the Economics and Health for All.
In response to this landmark resolution, the Secretariat has developed the Global Strategy on Economics of Health for All. This guiding framework enables the health sector to engage more effectively with economic policies and institutions.
The strategy envisions an economic system in which policies and institutions prioritize health alongside economic prosperity.
Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,
The significance of this approach is particularly pronounced in our South-East Asia Region, where we have diverse economies and health systems.
Economic and labor policies, along with trade agreements and commercial activities, significantly impact both the accessibility and quality of health care.
In our region, the undeniable reality is that low public investments in health have led to high levels of out-of-pocket expenditures which contribute to financial hardship.
The swift pace of urbanization and industrialization is also transforming economies across the Region, necessitating targeted strategies to mitigate worsening health inequities.
Nonetheless, our commitment to multi-sectoral collaboration, and health in all policies, remains firm. I am pleased to note a number of examples in this regard.
Sri Lanka has historically adopted a holistic social welfare approach, supported by a broad set of social policies to address health, education and food security;
In Thailand, health impact assessment in social and development projects is instituted through legislation; and
Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness framework seeks to align economic growth with societal wellbeing and happiness.
Across the region, integrated government efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic facilitated a unified and effective approach to health financing and service provision.
Our Regional Office has a well-established tradition of fostering collaboration between the Ministries of Health and Finance.
In partnership with the Asian Development Bank, we previously co-hosted a high-level symposium for health and finance ministers. Additionally, the bi-regional Health Financing Policy workshops have consistently engaged representatives from both ministries.
Nevertheless, we must do more to position health as a fundamental pillar of national economic policies and fiscal frameworks. A coordinated and strategic approach is imperative. By integrating health within broader economic policies, we can secure sustainable wellbeing for all.
Our WHO South-East Asia Regional Office is committed to helping our Member States to strengthen capacities and support strategic actions for the Economics of Health for All agenda.
Considering the wide and varied experiences of Member States, we will continue to document and facilitate sharing of experiences to draw lessons and inspiration.
During this consultation, I welcome your insights on how best to advance this work. Your feedback will be invaluable in shaping the next steps forward, and I look forward to being appraised of the outcomes.
Thank you.