The UN Health4Life Fund received significant support at the NCD and mental health multi-stakeholder hearing at UN headquarters in New York on 2 May 2025.
The hearing, convened in preparation for the fourth high-level meeting on NCDs, mental health and well-being, provided Member States, UN system agencies, civil society, and other stakeholders to reflect on the progress report provided by the UN Secretary-General to the General Assembly since the last high-level meeting in 2018. Those attending also shared their hopes and aspirations for this September’s high-level meeting and the political declaration, to be negotiated in the summer.
The Government of the Philippines, led the call saying, ‘At the second international dialogue on sustainable financing for NCDs and mental health last year, the Philippines expressed its intent to take on a greater global role in addressing these [NCDs and mental health] pressing health challenges’ adding, ‘The Philippines actively participates in the UN Health4Life Fund and proudly serves on its steering committee, promoting sustainable financing and championing investment in NCDs and mental health, especially for low- and middle-income countries.’
At the opening of a panel discussion on reshaping and strengthening health systems and financing to meet the needs of people living with and at risk of NCDs and mental health conditions, the moderator, Andrea Feigl, CEO of the Health Finance Institute emphasized the importance of aligning domestic and international financing, noting that, ‘While domestic funding has to be the mainstay of funding responses, development assistance is crucial for catalyzing ever more effective responses. We therefore urge Member States to commit to the UN Health4Life Fund by including it in the political declaration.’
This was reiterated by Maik Dünnbier, Director of Strategy and Advocacy at Movendi International, who said, ‘We urge Member States to commit to the Health4Life Fund by including it in the political declaration.’
Stephen Connor, Executive Director of the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance, in advocating for the inclusion of palliative care in universal health coverage said, ‘The continuum of universal health coverage includes promotion, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care. So, without palliative care, healthcare isn’t universal. Therefore, it should be included in all universal benefit packages and included in the Health4Life Fund.’
Rory Neft, from UNICEF, one of the Fund’s participating UN organizations, emphasized the importance of children and young people being at the centre of the NCD response, said, ‘As we prepare for the high-level meeting in September, Member States must take bold action, including mobilizing resource through the UN Health4Life Fund, a partnership between UNDP, WHO and UNICEF.’
In the meantime, NCD Alliance in their proposed text that they are championing for the political declaration highlight the Health4Life Fund, recognizing that ‘health financing requires global solidarity and collective effort… including through catalytic official development assistance aligned with national NCD priorities… and increasing the number of contributors to the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund for NCDs and Mental Health.’
A number of Health4Life partners will be in Geneva for the World Health Assembly later this month, and the Health4Life Fund will be an important part of the discussions.
A recording of the hearing is available in two parts. Part 1 and Part 2
Further information on the high-level meeting is available here.
Further information on the Helath4Life Fund is available here.