World Bank Group

10/16/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/16/2025 16:52

Launch of the Health Works Leaders Coalition

On October 16, 2025, the World Bank Group, the Government of Japan, and the World Health Organization officially launched the Health Works Leaders Coalition. This global alliance brings together health and finance ministers, philanthropic organizations, business leaders, leaders of global health agencies, and civil society representatives with the aim of promoting investments in health systems as a strategy for economic growth, job creation, and improved resilience.

The Leaders Coalition is central to Health Works, a broader, global initiative led by the World Bank Group and partners to help countries reach 1.5 billion people with quality, affordable health services by 2030.

The Coalition aims to mobilize domestic and international investments, catalyze reform, and align partners behind scalable, government-led priorities. The Coalition is not a funding mechanism, but rather a coordinated effort to drive bold, high-impact action on health reform globally. During the inaugural meeting, held during the World Bank Group Annual Meetings, it was announced that an initial group of 21 countries will develop National Health Compacts-government-led agreements that will lay out bold reforms, investment priorities, shared accountability and unlock resources for expanding access to quality, affordable healthcare.

Reform priorities range from free health checkups and expansion of health insurance in Indonesia to developing a pharmaceutical strategy in Mexico aimed at creating 60,000 jobs through private sector partnerships.

The first compacts, representing a range of income levels and geographic regions, are scheduled for formal launch at the UHC High-Level Forum in Tokyo in December 2025.

The Government of Japan also announced the first group of eight countries participating in the inaugural program of the UHC Knowledge Hub in Tokyo-a new platform designed to support national policymakers from developing countries through capacity-building and knowledge sharing.

Health Work Leaders Coalition Members:

  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia
  • GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance
  • Indonesia
  • Kenya
  • Nigeria
  • Philippines
  • Seed Global Health
  • Sierra Leone
  • St. Lucia
  • The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
  • The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation
  • United Kingdom
  • WACI Health
  • Wellcome Trust

National Health Compact Countries:

  • Bangladesh
  • Cambodia
  • Cote D'Ivoire
  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia
  • Fiji
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Kenya
  • Mexico
  • Morocco
  • Nigeria
  • Philippines
  • St. Lucia
  • Sierra Leone
  • Syria
  • Tajikistan
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • Uzbekistan
  • Zambia

Initial UHC Knowledge Hub Countries:

Cambodia | Egypt | Ethiopia | Ghana | Indonesia | Kenya | Nigeria | Philippines

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