Japan will contribute about $2.9 billion to programs combating infectious disease and treating young children in developing countries that are pursuing uni
Japan will contribute about $2.9 billion to programs combating infectious disease and treating young children in developing countries that are pursuing universal health coverage, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday at an international forum on the topic in Tokyo.
Universal health coverage — ensuring that every person can obtain the health care services they need without suffering financial hardship — is part of the sustainable development goals U. N. members aim to achieve by 2030.
Abe made the announcement alongside U. N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and world leaders attending the Universal Health Coverage Forum, which was organized by the Japanese government and international organizations including the World Bank and World Health Organization.
“We will give our all to building a global framework to promote UHC, together with Secretary-General Guterres and other world leaders,” Abe said.
Abe also proposed a new interim universal health coverage target — that 1 billion more people will be able to receive basic health services by 2023.
At present the WHO aims to ensure by 2030 that 80 percent of the population of developing countries have access to basic health services, and that no one falls into poverty due to out-of-pocket expenses on health care.
