Amsterdam, the Netherlands – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced its participation in several activities aimed at driving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) during the 74th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 74) week in New York.
Half the world’s population still lacks access to essential health services. Even where people do have access to these services, the combination of growing and aging populations, the rise of chronic diseases, severe resource constraints and climate change has created a pressing need for more sustainable models of healthcare delivery. The drive to achieve UHC – affordable and effective healthcare delivery for everyone on the planet – without compromising the future availability of natural resources is fuelling a shift from volume-based to value-based healthcare, which aims to extend access to care and improve patient outcomes at lower cost.
Philips has aligned its strategy with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), through its "Healthy people, sustainable planet" program with three focus areas: access to care for the underserved (SDG3: healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages); circular economy and eco-design (SDG12: sustainable use of materials); and sustainable use of energy, emissions reduction and renewable energy (SDG13: action to combat climate change and its impacts). During UNGA 74 week in New York, Philips is organizing and actively participating in high-level meetings and discussions with international stakeholders to discuss achieving these goals.