From 23-28 May, Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) met in Geneva for the Sixty-ninth World Health Assembly and approved, with overwhelming support, the resolution on “Strengthening integrated, people-centred health services” that supports the Framework on integrated people-centred health services.
The Resolution was proposed by Andorra, Chile, Estonia, Finland, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Luxembourg and Thailand, as co-sponsoring countries, and received additional inputs from India, Zimbabwe and Canada. During the discussions, the resolution received support and statements from various other WHO Member States, including Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Member States of the Americas (represented by Chile), China, Costa Rica, the Nordic and Baltic countries (represented by Estonia), Germany, the Member States of the African Region (represented by Guinea), Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Panama, the Philippines, Slovakia, South Africa, The United Republic of Tanzania, the UK and Zimbabwe.
This important milestone gives WHO the official mandate to work with its Member States and other key stakeholders to advance health service delivery reforms and to support implementation of the Framework on integrated people-centred health services.
About the Framework
The Framework on integrated people-centred health services (IPCHS) represents a fundamental shift in the way health services are funded, managed and delivered.
Longer lifespans and the growing burden of long-term chronic conditions
requiring complex interventions over many years are putting increasing
pressure on health systems globally. Unless they are transformed, health
systems will become increasingly fragmented, inefficient and
unsustainable.
Integrated people-centred care means putting people and communities, not diseases, at the centre of health systems, and empowering people to take charge of their own health rather than being passive recipients of services. Evidence shows that health systems oriented around the needs of people and communities become more effective, cost less, improve health literacy and patient engagement, and are better prepared to respond to health crises.