French Parliament reinforces partnership with WHO

22 March 2019 -- Members of the French Parliament met with senior WHO leadership to discuss France’s expanding role in global health, the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) Global Action Plan and parliamentary participation in WHO.

As Chair of the G7, France has fought inequality by advocating for gender equality and access to high-quality health services.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the importance of France’s endorsement of the SDG3 Global Action Plan within the G7 agenda. He encouraged parliamentary participation at the Seventy-second World Health Assembly in May, as the Inter-Parliamentary Union prepares a resolution on universal health coverage.

“France has made an enormous impact on global health through its work in setting up the Global Fund, Unitaid, Gavi and the International Finance Facility for Immunisation,” said Dr Tedros. “The SDG3 Global Action Plan is a unique opportunity to bring the global health community together to deliver results more effectively and efficiently for the people we serve. We value France’s support and look forward to working with President Macron and the French Parliament during France’s G7 Presidency to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.”

France plays a key leadership role in global health, hosting the WHO Lyon Office, the International Agency for Research on Cancer and 19 WHO collaborating centres.  France has also committed to hosting the WHO Academy in Lyon, which will work to accelerate the competencies needed to achieve health for all by 2030.

WHO thanked France for its commitment to the Muskoka Initiative and its move towards flexible funding. The Organization looks forward to further collaboration on shared priorities such as universal health coverage, gender, health and the environment and health security.