Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) has endorsed the “Civil Society’s Expectations for the Continuation and Development of Japan’s Global Health Initiatives,” compiled by the Japan CSO Network for Global Health.

This statement calls on the Government of Japan to continue exercising leadership in global health policy and to maintain its ongoing support, in order to prevent the regression of past achievements and ensure the realization of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) that leaves no one behind. The statement highlights the potential humanitarian crises that could arise from policy shifts among major donor countries.

The recent changes in policies by key donor countries that have historically supported global health have led to reduced financial cooperation and policy support. Funding for infectious disease control, health systems, and primary healthcare in low- and middle-income countries has already been suspended, causing significant impacts globally. Should this situation persist, there is a risk of both short- and long-term devastating effects, including a sharp rise in deaths and infections due to severe malnutrition, the spread of infectious diseases, and the worsening of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which could result in the loss of many lives.

In light of these circumstances, it is imperative to recognize global health as a critical issue that encompasses economic, social, and security risks. From the perspective of human security, the statement urges Japan to further strengthen the foundation it has built in global health policy and to continue demonstrating leadership within the international community.

The original text of this letter can be found in the PDF at the end (in Japanese).