The 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) has opened in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme “One World for Health.”
Addressing the opening ceremony on Monday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said every WHA is significant, but this year’s gathering is particularly historic as member states are expected to consider and potentially adopt the pandemic agreement.
Tedros also called on member states to approve the next round of assessed contribution increases to help ensure the WHO’s long-term financial sustainability and independence.
A major focus of this year’s assembly is the deliberation of the much-anticipated pandemic agreement. The WHO announced on April 16 that, following more than three years of intensive negotiations, member states have reached a consensus on a draft of the agreement.
Delegates will also review the 2024 results report and deliberate on around 75 agenda items covering a wide range of topics, including the health and care workforce, antimicrobial resistance, health emergencies, polio and climate change, among other issues.
Sustainable financing is another key issue. The Assembly is expected to discuss the proposed program budget for 2026-2027, which may be reduced from 5.3 billion U.S. dollars to 4.267 billion dollars, alongside efforts to refocus priorities, strengthen core functions, and enhance organizational efficiency.
The World Health Assembly is the WHO’s highest decision-making body and is typically held every May in Geneva. Its main responsibilities include setting organizational policies and reviewing and approving the program budget. This year’s Assembly is scheduled to conclude on May 27. UNI XINHUA AKT SSP
