Astana conference renews primary health care pledge

The day’s reporting foregrounded the rights of knowledge holders whose practices and recipes could otherwise be appropriated.

At a UN high-level meeting, governments set targets to expand TB prevention and care.

The political declaration urged better access to diagnosis and treatment.

Health leaders discussed funding, research and accountability for ending TB.

The 2018 pledges were policy commitments, not proof that tuberculosis had ended.

The new declaration followed the 1978 commitment to health for all.

Delegates placed community-based primary care at the centre of health-system plans.

The conference emphasized equity, access and cooperation across sectors.

Children began receiving the RTS,S vaccine through a routine immunization pilot.

The pilot tested how to provide a new prevention tool through existing health services.