At the occasion of the World Health Summit 2020 and the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, a new book was launched that calls on world leaders and politicians to unite in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other threats to health and the global economy.
Health: A Political Choice – Act Now, Together is the latest in a series of titles published by the Global Governance Project in collaboration with WHO.
This year’s edition features another prestigious line-up of authors, including Amina J Mohammed, deputy secretary-general of the UN, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO and President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa. Calling for coordinated action in response to COVID-19 and on other pressing health-related issues, the publication focuses on five key areas:
- Inclusive economics, defined by a new social contract and the pursuit of progress for all
- The fundamental requirements for a healthy life and equitable health care
- Equitable investments and how to make universal health coverage a reality
- Health in the digital age and how technology can help reshape the human rights agenda
- The long-term outlook on global health
Dr Tedros, WHO Director-General, said: “It has never been clearer that health is a political and economic choice. In the past 20 years, countries have invested heavily in preparing for terrorist attacks, but relatively little in preparing for the attack of a virus – which, as the COVID-19 pandemic has proven, can be far more deadly, disruptive and costly.”
The first book in the series Health: A Political Choice. Delivering Universal Health Coverage 2030 was launched in 2019.
