Discurso do Representante Permanente, Embaixador Sérgio Danese, na posição de Presidente da Iniciativa Global de Saúde e Política Externa (FPGH), durante o segmento de abertura do Diálogo interativo de alto nível sobre os determinantes sociais, econômicos e ambientais da saúde - 11 de julho de 2025 (texto em inglês)

Statement by the Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, Ambassador Sérgio Danese, as Chair of the Global Health and Foreign
Policy Initiative (FPGH), at the "High-level interactive dialogue on the social, economic and environmental determinants of health" opening segment
July 11th, 2025

Excellencies, dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

As Chair of Foreign Policy and Global Health Initiative (which comprises Brazil, France, Indonesia, Norway, Senegal, South Africa and Thailand), I would like to convey our most sincere appreciation to the President of the General Assembly, Ambassador Philémon Yang, for convening this High-Level Dialogue on Social Determinants of Health, as a result of a call enshrined in Resolution 78/280 led by the Foreign Policy and Global Health Initiative.

Our group has consistently upheld a holistic approach to how the world promote and achieve better results in public health, especially through relentlessly reminding the world that health outcomes will only improve if we act on social and economic factors that render our populations more vulnerable to avoidable diseases and other preventable health conditions.

In May 2025, the publication of the World Health Organization’s global report on the social determinants of health equity marked a pivotal milestone in our collective pursuit of health justice. This document reaffirms, once again, that social inequalities remain the most profound and enduring determinants of mortality and morbidity worldwide, disproportionately burdening populations caught in vulnerability and exclusion.

This recognition is firmly rooted in the principles of the Rio Declaration on Social Determinants of Health, issued in Brazil, which emphasizes that health equity requires addressing the root causes embedded in the social, economic, and political structures of our societies.

It underscores that over 50% of health outcomes are determined by where we are born, grow, work, and age — not solely by healthcare access or biomedical interventions. Our health conditions are intricately linked to the social fabric that defines our lives.

Achieving health equity demands more than isolated medical solutions and investment in cutting edge health technologies. Cost effective solutions require confronting the structural inequalities that produce and reproduce social, economic, and territorial disparities. This calls for an inclusive approach — strengthening public health systems and promoting universal health coverage and equitable access, eliminating structural discrimination, fostering
intersectoral governance, and confronting existential challenges such as adverse impacts of climate change and digital transformation. Only considering health objectives in all governmental policies we can ensure that no one is left behind.

In this context, the Foreign Policy and,Global Health Initiative continues to prioritize,the fight against hunger and poverty — which,are core social determinants of health. We,recognize that food security, adequate housing, education, gender equality, and decent work are essential to reducing health disparities.

Our national policies and programs aim to address these social challenges head-on, and we advocate for their inclusion as fundamental pillars within global health strategies. This is the objective, for instance, of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, launched during the Brazilian presidency of the G20, which already gathers around 150 partners.

Colleagues,

The diagnosis of social injustices in health must translate into concrete and participatory public policies, backed by adequate funding and reinforced through multilateral political commitment.

Social participation is one of the cornerstones of our public health policy. Supporting the capacity of the WHO, as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work, to assist member states in this endeavor remains both strategic and urgent. It is only through coordinated, global efforts that we can make tangible progress.

Socially determined diseases—such as Chagas disease, onchocerciasis, hepatitis B, schistosomiasis, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria and diseases related to oral health still affect millions, primarily in poor, vulnerable and marginalized segments of the population.

Effectively confronting these diseases requires an integrated, intersectoral approach; the strengthening of local and regional production of essential health inputs; fostering innovation and research; and ensuring equitable access to life-saving treatments. To this effect, BRICS countries have just agreed to launch a Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases.

Furthermore, promoting a more just, resilient, and prepared global health system calls for reinforcing national health systems, supporting local production of health technologies, and embedding social determinants at the core of health policies.

The agenda of the United Nations must be made more inclusive and ambitious, recognizing that health equity is a fundamental human right and a shared global responsibility. Finally, I wish to underscore the Foreign Policy and Global Health Initiative unwavering commitment to the fight against hunger, extreme poverty, and social exclusion — endeavors that are vital not only for a fairer world, but also for the sustainable development of our nations.

Only by addressing these fundamental issues can we truly realize the vision of health for all, ensuring a future where health equity is not merely an aspiration but a permanent achievement.

Thank you.