The General Assembly decided today that the 2027 high-level meeting on universal health coverage will be convened under the theme, “Universal health coverage: accessible and affordable health for all by 2030”, adopting a modalities resolution for the one-day New York gathering that surmounted two proposals by the Russian Federation to alter language around stakeholder participation.
By a recorded vote of 141 in favour to 3 against (Argentina, Russian Federation, United States), with no abstentions, the Assembly adopted the resolution titled “Scope, modalities, format and organization of the high-level meeting on universal health coverage”, deciding that the high-level meeting — to be convened by the President of the General Assembly in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) — will include opening, plenary and closing segments, along with two multistakeholder panels.
By other terms, it requested the Assembly President to organize and preside over a one-day interactive multistakeholder hearing before the end of May 2027, bringing together Governments, civil society, health organizations, academia, the private sector and broader communities, among others. The high-level meeting will approve a concise and action-oriented political declaration, agreed in advance by consensus through intergovernmental negotiations and submitted by the President of the Assembly for the Assembly’s adoption.
Assembly Rejects Amendments Proposed by Russian Federation
Prior to the adoption, the Assembly rejected amendment “L.91” proposed by the Russian Federation by a vote of 76 against to 22 in favour, with 30 abstentions, which would have deleted the phrase “and broader communities” from operative paragraph 6.
By a vote of 76 against to 20 in favour, with 38 abstentions, it likewise rejected amendment “L.92”, which would have deleted the phrase “and to bring the list to the attention of the Assembly for a final decision by the Assembly on participation in the high-level meeting” from operative paragraph 10.
Prior to the vote, the representative of the Russian Federation said draft resolution “L.87” contained language that lacked consensus. “During discussion of operative paragraph 6, Member States did not manage to bring together positions nor to find common ground,” he emphasized. He proposed amendment “L.91” to remove terminology referring to broader communities, arguing that it is vague, open to subjective interpretation and unnecessary when it comes to organizational arrangements.
He also objected to language in the operative paragraph 10 concerning civil society participation. Emphasizing that current working methods are creating division and weakening unity, he proposed amendment “L.92”, which would delete the disputed language and allow the Assembly to make the final decision on participation.
United States Objects to ‘Expansive’ Agenda, While European Union, Others Call for ‘Maximum Fairness’
The United States’ representative voted against resolution “L.87”, underscoring that the meeting would increase UN spending, undermine national sovereignty and “promote an unnecessarily expansive bureaucratic agenda”. She criticized the growing number of high-level meetings, arguing that existing technical forums should instead be used to assess healthcare gaps and develop solutions.
Further, Assembly resolutions are non-binding and she distanced the United States from the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. She reiterated that Washington, D.C., recognizes only male and female sexes and said it withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO) due to the organization’s handling of COVID-19. The pandemic “arose out of Wuhan, China,” she added.
Ireland’s delegate, speaking for the European Union, said the 2027 meeting on universal health coverage should include all relevant stakeholders. “The language in [operative paragraph] 10, which has been adopted repeatedly by the General Assembly, ensures maximum fairness and transparency by giving the decision-making power to the General Assembly rather than any single Member State,” he said.
Similarly, Japan’s delegate objected to the proposal to delete “broader communities” from operative paragraph 6, stressing that the 2027 meeting must include diverse perspectives. Drawing on its 65 years of universal healthcare coverage, he highlighted challenges related to ageing populations, rising costs, HIV and non-communicable diseases. “We must continue to listen to diverse voices,” he insisted.
Participation … with Conditions, Türkiye Says, as Others Focus on Health as Human Right, Development Imperative
Türkiye’s representative, in explanation of vote, supported the participation of non-governmental organizations in the 2027 meeting but nonetheless cautioned that some misuse UN access for politically motivated activities. “We strongly support the participation of NGOs and other stakeholders to the work of the UN, as long as their objectives and activities are in line with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the UN,” he added. Türkiye voted in favour of amendment “L.92” and dissociated itself from operative paragraph 10 of the resolution, he said.
Cuba’s speaker said he voted in support of the resolution, describing universal health coverage as a “fundamental human right rather than a commodity”. “Health cannot be conceived of as a privilege or a good to be traded,” he stressed, also adding that United States sanctions on his county obstruct access to life-saving medicines and equipment.
Argentina’s delegate reaffirmed support for universal access to quality health services but voted against “L.87”, viewing its references to the 2030 Agenda and WHO as exceeding the meeting’s organizational scope. “Our vote should not be interpreted as questioning the goal of expanding access to good quality health services,” he added.
Iran’s representative said it voted in favour of the procedural resolution but stressed that implementation of any future outcome must conform to Iran’s Constitution, laws, regulations and national priorities. “We emphasize that this resolution is procedural and non-binding in nature,” he said, noting that the adoption creates no new international obligations.
Next, Timor-Leste’s speaker, welcoming the resolution, described health as a development imperative and highlighted the challenges to his country posed by climate change. “Building climate resilient health systems must, therefore, be an integral part of sustainable development,” he said, emphasizing the importance of national ownership, predictable financing and international cooperation to improve preparedness.
China’s speaker welcomed adoption of resolution “L.87” and reaffirmed universal health coverage as central to the Sustainable Development Goals. He highlighted domestic health reforms, cooperation with the WHO and support for stronger global health governance. “China firmly opposes the politicization of the pandemic, attempts to engage in political manipulation under the pretext of COVID-19, and efforts to shift blame and responsibility onto China,” he said.
Prior to action, the Secretariat’s representative read out budget implications, noting that if resolution “L.87” is adopted, the Secretariat will seek to absorb the requirements within its budget. She added that the Secretariat’s “ability to implement the mandate will depend on the availability of adequate resources”.
The 2027 High-level meeting will be an opportunity for Member States and stakeholders to review progress on commitments made in the 2023 Political Declaration on Universal Health Coverage.