6.K. Round table: Practical approaches to advancing UHC and the role of better donor coordination

Abstract The share of Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocated to health has dropped to its lowest point in 10 years according to some reports. Recent donor announcements point toward an unprecedented strain in global aid, with estimates showing a nearly 20% drop in ODA. As traditional donor countries announce reductions in their aid budgets to cope with economic and geopolitical challenges and refocus public expenditure, international cooperation and donor coordination becomes the more critical. In this context, the European Union and its Member States are emerging as key players and donors in Global Health, with outstanding high impact examples, such as the UHC Partnership. The UHC-Partnership, created in 2011 to promote Universal Health Coverage (UHC), has provided a transparent mechanism for coordination between WHO and donors, ensuring resources are effectively allocated and utilized to achieve UHC goals. Throughout the years, the partnership has facilitated access to technical experts providing assistance to health authorities in the areas of governance, workforce, financing, access to health products, information and service delivery. The UHC partnership has contributed to stronger health systems in participating countries of Europe and Central Asia by expanding healthcare services in rural and underserved areas, ensuring equitable access for all populations, advocating for increased and efficient health financing, reducing out-of-pocket expenses, and promoting financial protection, reinforcing the leadership of the ministries of health in building resilient and effective health systems. These investments serve as incubators for country-owned, technically sound, and politically feasible reforms. They also have the potential for sustainable scale-up of systems transformations through donor alignment and long-term policy engagement. Importantly, these investments not only improve health outcomes but also foster long-term stability and security in the region, demonstrating the critical role of donor support in achieving universal health coverage. As the UHC Partnership moves to phase V, it is critical to examine the impact the partnership has had in countries over the last years, while responding to a pandemic, conflict, politics and rapid technological advances, among others. In this roundtable, through each of the country examples, we aim at unpacking the “how” of health systems transformation through the health systems levers: Leadership and governance, health system financing, health workforce, medical products, vaccines and technologies and health information systems. We will also share key achievements of the Phase IV of the UHC partnership in Moldova, North Macedonia, Ukraine and Tajikistan and invite participants to contribute to Phase V, which will focus on developing robust policies, generating political will and building capacity of governments to steer the health sector beyond 2030. Key messages • The UHC Partnership has strengthened leadership of health authorities in North Macedonia, Ukraine & Tajikistan by improving governance, financial protection, medicine access & workforce training. • Effective donor coordination helps align technical expertise and financial resources. Through the UHC partnership, the EU and other donors have enhanced health security and advanced UHC.