Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Forum 2025: Advancing Global Health (2026)

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) High-level Forum: A Global Collaboration for Health Equity

The Government of Japan, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank Group, is hosting a significant event in Tokyo on December 6, 2025: the High-level Forum on Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This forum brings together key stakeholders to advance global health equity through strengthened collaboration and innovative health financing strategies.

A Platform for Strategic Dialogue

The forum provides a unique platform for senior officials from health and finance ministries, international organizations, and development partners to engage in strategic discussions. The aim is to explore ways to accelerate progress towards UHC by sharing knowledge, best practices, and innovative approaches to health financing and systems reform.

Celebrating the UHC Knowledge Hub

During the forum, the official launch of the UHC Knowledge Hub in Tokyo will take place. This hub, established by WHO and the World Bank Group with Japanese support, offers capacity-strengthening programs for leaders in health and finance ministries. These programs aim to enhance their ability to implement effective health financing reforms.

Key Forum Highlights

• Global Monitoring Report 2025: The WHO and World Bank will present the latest UHC global monitoring report, providing insights into global progress and challenges.
• National Health Compacts: Several country leaders will announce their commitments to UHC, showcasing their strategies and progress.
• Livestream: The open session of the forum will be live-streamed, allowing global audiences to participate and engage.

Participants and Program

The forum attracts a diverse range of participants:

• Ministers of Finance and Health from low- and middle-income countries
• Representatives of international organizations, public-private partnerships, philanthropic organizations, civil society, and the private sector

The tentative program includes:

• High-level discussions on UHC
• Launch ceremony of the UHC Knowledge Hub
• Release of the UHC Global Monitoring Report 2025
• Announcement of National Health Compacts
• Panel discussions on innovative health financing solutions

The UHC Knowledge Hub: A Collaborative Initiative

The UHC Knowledge Hub in Tokyo is a collaborative initiative supported by the Japanese government and established by WHO and the World Bank Group. Its primary goal is to empower national senior officials from health and finance ministries in low- and lower-middle-income countries. Through capacity-building and knowledge sharing grounded in data and evidence, the hub helps these officials improve the equity, alignment, and effectiveness of domestic and international health financing in their countries.

Key Activities of the UHC Knowledge Hub

1. Training and Capacity Building: The hub offers practitioner-focused, competency-based learning opportunities and promotes peer-to-peer learning. These efforts aim to strengthen capacity in health financing, public financial management, and the implementation of UHC reforms. The first in-person co-design workshop and UHC Leadership Program are scheduled for October 2025 and February 2026, respectively.
2. Advocacy and Convening: To accelerate UHC progress, the hub organizes high-level events and policy dialogues, bringing together key partners and governments. These gatherings aim to build momentum and promote coordination around innovative and effective solution-driven health financing reform strategies.

This forum and the UHC Knowledge Hub represent a significant step towards global health equity. By fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, these initiatives empower countries to make meaningful progress towards Universal Health Coverage.