Equal Opportunities to «Health For All», Pascoal MOCUMBI’s Vision for WHO

A Framework for Action

Health for All and Primary Health Care for the 21st Century

I believe that the “Health For All” (HFA) strategy and the Primary Health Care (PHC) approach should be revitalized and revisited as needed to reflect the challenges of this new century. While few countries have achieved the goals articulated in these strategies, much progress has been made and their value as a framework for action has been widely accepted. WHO must work with Member States to take stock of the evidence of successes and failures in this 28-year journey of implementation. Important goals embodied in the “Health For All” (HFA) strategy such as Universal Coverage and Equity in access to Health care have, unfortunately, not been achieved and new efforts in this direction have to be deployed.

This review process must reflect what we have learned about the broader determinants of Health, including social, economic, cultural, gender, behavioral, demographic and environmental factors. Within Health Systems, we should look anew at how to develop an integrated approach to Health care delivery and referral systems. Of utmost importance will be to revisit the role of WHO and its organizational structures vis-à-vis the HFA strategy and PHC approach.

In my own experience, the HFA strategy and the PHC approach have the potential to empower communities. When coupled with the synergies produced by intersectoral cooperation, they can bring about a new dynamism to promote Health Development in all nations of the world, both rich and poor.

In this context, to consolidate and sustain the movement towards equity generated by the Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH), I commit myself to organize a Global Consultation Forum involving all partners to create a shared vision of Health for All strategy and Primary Health Care approach for the 21st century.

Evidence for Action: Health Research

I believe that scientific evidence should guide action for Health Development. I have always strived to start with evidence and work to generate consensus when possible or to identify a way forward that is compatible with divergent interests. If elected to lead WHO, I firmly commit myself to continue to do so. By creating neutral ground, health interventions can act as a bridge for peace in conflict and health development can play an important role to consolidate World Peace.

I will pay special attention to Health research to guide the development of Health Systems and the implementation of health programs on the ground. Health research should not neglect the health problems of the poor and needs to pay greater attention to the broader determinants of Health. WHO should ensure that Health research is intensified in the areas of genetic disorders, chronic and degenerative diseases and traditional medicine.

WHO has a good record in promoting and mobilizing expert knowledge, skills and resources to tackle various health and biomedical problems both directly by its own staff and through partnerships with collaborating centers and experts worldwide. Throughout the years, WHO has been a scientific reference and depository of scientific knowledge in different fields of Health. This wealth of information and knowledge should be made easily available and be widely disseminated. I make a strong commitment to analyze constraints to knowledge and information sharing and devise new improved ways to work in partnerships with academic and research institutions and the private sector to ensure that this precious scientific information is easily available to those who need it, anywhere in the world.

WHO must also step up research and development of new interventions for effective control of targeted diseases and to promote capacity development in countries that lack it. To monitor progress and quality of health services WHO should improve capacity to regularly issue guidelines to collect and analyze health data that can be used as evidence to improve delivery of health services centered on quality, equity and efficiency.

Human Resources for Action

A critical issue for most Health systems in the world relates to human resources for Health. Without balanced, motivated and qualified health teams, Health objectives can be put at risk. In effect, human resources for health remain in many developing countries the single most important factor curtailing health systems’ performance. WHO has been playing a critical role in promoting and facilitating development of human resources for Health in Member States, particularly in the developing world. Implementation of the global initiative on human resources for health should deserve priority attention from WHO management team. WHO should seek innovative approaches to assist countries in training, deployment, retention and development of its workforce. WHO should also assist ministries of health to improve planning and management of human resources for health