The Assembly, WHO’s highest decision-making body, convened from 19 May to 27 May, under the theme “One World for Health”. Member States considered approximately 75 items and sub-items across all areas of health, engaging in lively debate and adopting consequential resolutions to improve health for all.
On 20 May, Member States adopted the historic WHO Pandemic Agreement. The moment was met with heartfelt applause, celebrating over three years of intense negotiations by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, comprising WHO’s Member States.
Over the next year, Member States will build on the Resolution, by holding consultations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system (PABS), an annex to the Agreement which would enhance equitable access to medical advancements.
Sustainable financing: protecting the future of global health
The Assembly’s commitment to sustainable financing did not stop there; at a high-level pledging event during WHA78, health leaders pledged at least US$ 210 million for WHO’s Investment Round, the fundraising campaign for the Organization’s global health strategy for the next four years (the Fourteenth General Programme of Work). In addition to the US$ 1.7 billion already raised for the Investment Round, these pledges mark a significant step toward sustainable financing of WHO. Since launching in May 2024, the Investment Round has attracted 35 new contributors – moving WHO closer to the broader donor base envisioned in the Director-General’s ongoing transformation agenda.
adopted a new resolution highlighting the global health financing emergency; endorsed first-ever resolutions on lung and kidney health, highlighting the upcoming UN General Assembly focus on noncommunicable diseases; adopted a new resolution on science-driven norms and standards for health policy and implementation; adopted a new target to halve the health impacts of air pollution by 2040; adopted an innovative resolution to promote social connection with growing evidence linking it to improved health outcomes and reduced risk of early death; adopted a resolution for a lead-free future; adopted a resolution to address rare diseases, protecting the over 300 million people globally who live with one of more than 7000 rare diseases; agreed to expand the provisions of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes to tackle the digital marketing of formula milk and baby foods; adopted a resolution to accelerate the eradication of Guinea worm disease.
The Assembly adopted other resolutions on digital health, the health and care workforce, medical imaging, nursing and midwifery, sensory impairment, and skin diseases, among others. Two new official WHO health campaigns were established: World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day and World Prematurity Day.
Strengthening health emergency preparedness and response
During the Assembly, Member States
considered matters pertaining to WHO’s work in health emergencies and commended the Organization’s leadership in this space; noted the Director-General’s report on implementation of the health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience (HEPR) framework and expressed their support for the strengthening of the global architecture; considered the health needs of people in Ukraine and the occupied Palestinian territory; noted the Director-General’s report on progress made in implementing the International Health Regulations (2005); and approved a resolution to strengthen the research base on public health and social measures to control outbreaks.Note to editors
On 28 May 2025 a small change was made on the final bullet point of this news release, from "approved a decision to strengthen" to "approved a resolution to strengthen".
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