This webinar, scheduled for 11 December 2024 from 11:30 to 13:00 GMT via Zoom, will mark the official launch of the UHC Compass, a tool designed to empower patient organisations in advancing universal health coverage (UHC) within their countries.

Set against the backdrop of the World Health Assembly resolution on social participation and UHC Day 2024, this session will delve into how the UHC Compass can serve as a powerful instrument for holding governments accountable for investing in universal health coverage.  

Panellists include:

• Daniela Espindula Mothci, CEO, International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations
• Dr Pam Cipriano, Co-chair, UHC2030 & President, International Council of Nurses
• Dr. Vesna Kerstin Petrič, Head of the Office for Cooperation with WHO, Ministry of Health of Slovenia
• Lara Brearley, Special Programme on Primary Health Care Universal Health Coverage - Life Course, World Health Organization
• Dumiso G. Gatsha, Founder, Success Capital NGO & Advisory Member, Civil Society Engagement Mechanism (CSEM) for UHC2030
• Nicola Bedlington, Chair, Global Patient Think Tank & Founding Partner, Millwater Partners & Former Secretary General, European Patients' Forum
• Smitha Sadasivan, Member, Global Patient Think Tank & Senior Advisor, Inclusive Health Policy, Disability Rights India Foundation & Advisory Member, CSEM
• Paul Mendoza, President, Psoriasis Philippines and Psoriasis Asia Pacific & Secretary, International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations

UHC has been a long-standing demand of civil society and patient organisations worldwide. This year’s UHC Day theme highlights the critical responsibility of governments in ensuring affordable or free healthcare for all, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable. The recent approval of the WHA resolution on social participation marks a significant milestone, paving the way for these actors to play a more active role – not only in holding governments accountable for implementing UHC but also in contributing meaningfully to discussions on how to achieve it.

Built upon the resolution on social participation and existing UHC resources (such as the ones developed by UHC2030 and CSEM), the Compass is being launched at a time when these global efforts for advancing UHC and institutionalising social participation can change the global health landscape and reshape health systems worldwide so they truly serve the unique needs, perspectives, contexts and preferences of the patients, people and communities they serve.

The UHC Compass is an interactive tool designed to support patient organisations in advancing UHC on the ground. It provides knowledge on UHC, but also offers self-assessment resources and case studies for patient organisations to develop their capabilities in playing an active role in decision-making processes in health.

The Compass was co-created by the Global Patient Think Tank (GPTT), a group of patient representatives from across the globe convened by Roche. As a member of the GPTT, IAPO will host the UHC Compass and ensure it reaches the wider global patient organisation community and beyond.

The webinar will be conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish.