Helen Clark Co-Chairs New Global Health Commission

A new global health commission established by London think tank Chatham House, co-chaired by former prime minister Helen Clark and former president of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete, seeks to strengthen worldwide medical systems to ensure a higher level of universality in the treatment of the sick, Damien McElroy reports for The National UK.

The panel has been asked to seize the opportunity to address massive global inequalities highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Chatham House Commission for Universal Health wants countries to boost health systems, making them more resilient for the next pandemic and better at protecting the poor and vulnerable in society. “Health is nutrition, education, service access, whether you live in a clean environment or whether you live in peace,” Clark, 72, said. “I think we will have a broader focus than just services.”

“History shows that so many of the great universal health systems have emerged from previous devastating crises like those born from the rubble of [WWII] and now, in fact, is the perfect time to grasp such opportunities again. We hope this commission will help show the way.”

The Commission will run from spring 2022 to December 2024.

Original article by Damien McElroy, The National UK, June 24, 2022.

Photo by Victor Besa.