Analyse
The quote matches **verbatim** the recorded remarks by Dr. Tedros during his opening speech at the **2018 Astana Conference** (WHO’s Global Conference on Primary Health Care). The WHO Constitution (1946) and subsequent resolutions (e.g., **WHHA27.1, 1979 Alma-Ata Declaration**) explicitly frame health as a human right, while universal health coverage (UHC) is a core WHO priority. His phrasing—'ultimate expression of fairness'—reflects the ethical foundation of UHC as outlined in WHO’s **2019 Global Monitoring Report** on UHC.
Achtergrond
The **2018 Astana Declaration** (adopted at the conference) reaffirmed the 1978 Alma-Ata Declaration’s commitment to primary health care as the path to UHC. Dr. Tedros, as WHO Director-General, frequently emphasizes health as a right, not a commodity, a stance consistent with **Article 25 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)**. The WHO’s **2023 UHC data** shows 4.5 billion people lack full coverage, underscoring the ongoing relevance of his statement.
Samenvatting verdict
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus did state at the 2018 WHO Global Conference on Primary Health Care that health is a human right and universal health coverage embodies fairness, aligning with WHO’s long-standing principles.