Global health and foreign policy: addressing the health of the most vulnerable for an inclusive society A/RES/72/139 particular attention given to the health needs of the most vulnerable, and to consider health in a holistic manner, including in the formulation of foreign policy; 4. Notes with appreciation the work of the Global Health Crises Task Force, concluded in July 2017, to support and monitor the implementation of recommendations contained in the report of the High-level Panel on the Global Response to Health Crises, 14 and the level 3 activation procedures for infectious disease events, for humanitarian actors in large-scale infectious disease events in humanitarian contexts, endorsed in December 2016, and requests the Secretary-General to provide periodic updates on the recommendations of the Global Health Crises Task Force, in close consultation with the Director General of the World Health Organization, with a special focus on preparedness for and the prevention of health crises; 5. Calls upon Member States and the United Nations system to urgently and effectively assist countries affected by the cholera epidemic in the strengthening of their national health, water and sanitation systems in order to eliminate cholera; 6. Calls upon Member States to accelerate progress towards the goal of universal health coverage, which implies that all people have equal access, without discrimination of any kind, to nationally determined sets of quality promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative basic health servi ces needed and essential, safe, affordable, effective and quality medicines, while ensuring that the use of such services and medicines does not expose the users to financial hardship, with a specific emphasis on the poor, vulnerable and marginalized segme nts of the population; 7. Encourages Member States to promote the effective, full and meaningful participation of all, in particular those who are vulnerable or in vulnerable situations, in the design, implementation and monitoring of law, policies and pr ogrammes relevant to realizing the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and to implementing the health -related Sustainable Development Goals, including strategies for universal health coverage; 8. Calls upon the international community and global health partners, as well as regional and national stakeholders, to support Member States in carrying out their primary responsibilities to accelerate the transition towards universal health coverage, and tackle social, economic and environmental determinants of health, as well as demographic challenges, including population ageing, provide social protection and adopt integrated, people-centred, community-based and gender-responsive health services based on human rights, which will help to empower those who are vulnerable or in vulnerable situations, enhance health equity and equality, end discrimination and create a more inclusive society; 9. Notes that challenges in global health still remain and demand persistent attention and that this urgently requires the fulfilment of commitments to strengthen the global partnership for development, and emphasizes in particular in this regard North-South cooperation, the importance of South-South and triangular cooperation and the exchange of best practices, as well as capacity-building and the transfer of technology on mutually agreed terms, to address health inequities in the context of poverty eradication and sustainable development, in line with national priorit ies; 10. Encourages Member States to secure sustainable financing for health research and development on emerging and re-emerging diseases, neglected tropical diseases, non-communicable diseases, including cancers and mental health, and antimicrobials, promote safe, affordable, effective and quality medicines, including antimicrobials and traditional medicines, and vaccines, enhance access to health __________________ 14 6/9 A/70/723. 17-22392