WHO's parliamentary engagement
WHO / Pierre Albouy
©
Credits
Parliaments play a crucial role in supporting the health of the people they represent by reviewing legislation once implemented, debating and approving budgets, holding governments to account, and operationalizing national and international commitments.
WHO’s engagement with parliaments and parliamentary platforms aims to:
Position health at the core of the parliamentary agenda: Parliamentarians can ensure that health policies and programs receive the public and political attention and the resources they need to be effectively implemented.
Increase political commitments: Parliamentarians as leading changemakers can play a key role in driving political commitments to improve health outcomes.
Increase financial investment in health: Parliamentarians can help to improve the health outcomes of their constituents and contribute to the overall well-being of society.
Bridge the gap between science and policy: Parliamentarians have a key role to play in bridging the science-policy gap and ensuring that health laws and policies, as well as their implementation, are informed by the latest scientific evidence.
Main pillars of engagement with Parliamentarians
Global health security
Global public health security is defined as the activities required, both proactive and reactive, to minimize the danger and impact of acute public health events that endanger people’s health across geographical regions and international boundaries.
WHO is working with parliamentarians to advocate for an emergency preparedness and health security agenda.
Health promotion and well-being
Health promotion advances health, well-being and human rights for everyone, especially those living in vulnerable and marginalized situations facing challenges related to sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health. Women, children, adolescents and older people have specific health needs which continue to be under-prioritized in national health systems.
WHO is working with parliamentarians to promote health and well-being for every pregnant woman, mother, newborn, child, adolescent, and older person.
Universal health coverage
Universal health coverage (UHC) means that all people have access to the full range of quality health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. It covers the full continuum of essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care across the life course.