The 78th World Health Assembly opened with wide appeal to solidarity around the world, with representatives from around the world gathering in Geneva to confront health, climate and financial challenges and complete a global treaty to lead the next pandemic.
World Health Organization Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged member states to continue to focus on shared goals amidst global instability.
“We are here to serve the eight billion people in our world, not our own interests,” he said in a keynote address for Palais des Nations. “To leave a legacy for those who come after us. To work together for our children and grandchildren, and for a healthier, more peaceful, and more equitable world. That’s possible.”
The highest decision-making body, Parliament, runs until May 27, bringing together the world of health, with the theme of delegations from 194 member states.
This year’s agenda includes votes on a heavily negotiated pandemic agreement, reduced budget proposals, discussions on climate, conflict, antibacterial resistance and digital health.
Pandemic prevention focus
The central item in the assembly agenda is the proposed Who Pandemic Accord. It is a global compact that aims to prevent the kind of fragmented reaction that marks the early stages of Covid-19.
This treaty is the result of three years of negotiations between all WHO member states.
“This is a truly historic moment,” Dr. Tedros said. “Even in the midst of a crisis, in the face of important opposition, you worked tirelessly, never giving up, and achieved your goal.”
A final vote on the contract is expected on Tuesday.
If adopted, this is the second time a country has come together to approve a legally binding global health treaty under the WHO establishment rules. The first was the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, adopted in 2003 to curb the global cigarette epidemic.
2024 Health Check
In his speech, Tedros presented highlights from the WHO’s 2024 results report, focusing on both progress and the persistent global health gap.
On tobacco control, he cited a global decline in smoking prevalence since the WHO Framework Convention came into effect 20 years ago.
He praised countries including Ivory Coast, Oman and Vietnam, and last year introduced stronger regulations, including simple packaging and restrictions on e-cigarettes.
On nutrition, he pointed to new WHO guidelines on the waste and expansion of tobacco-free farm initiatives in Africa that have supported thousands of farmers in the transition to food crops.
He also highlighted the growth in work on air pollution and climate-sensitive health systems. This includes installing solar energy in medical facilities in multiple countries, including partnerships with Gavi and Unicef.
Regarding mothers and child health, Tedros noted that progress has stalled and outlined a new national acceleration plan to reduce neonatal mortality. Currently, if the vaccination expansion program was launched in 1974, the vaccination rate has reached 83% worldwide.
“We live in a golden age of disease elimination,” he said. Advances in neglected tropical diseases. And Botswana’s recognition as the first country in eliminating the maternal and child transmission of HIV.
Budget tension
Tedros showed who operated internally and provided a rigorous assessment of the organization’s finances.
“We face a salary gap every two years, over USD 500 million,” he said. “Reducing the workforce means reducing the scope of work.”
This week, Member States voted for a 20% increase in valued contributions, and a 20% increase, as well as a reduction in program budgets of $4.2 billion for 2026-2027, down from previous proposals of $5.3 billion. The cut reflects who will work with current funding levels while maintaining core functionality.
Tedros acknowledged that long-standing reliance on voluntary allocated funds depends on funding from a small group of donors. He urged member states to view budget shortages not only as a crisis, but as a potential turning point.
“We have to raise money, whether we have to lower our ambitions for who we are and what we are,” he said. “I know which one to choose.”
He painted a significant contrast between the WHO budget and global spending priorities. “US$2.1 billion equals global military spending every eight hours.US$2.1 billion is the price of one stealth bomber.
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“It looks like someone has switched the price tag to something that’s really valuable in our world,” he said.
Emergency and appeal
The Director also detailed the WHO emergency activities in 2024, spanning 89 countries. These included responses to the outbreak of cholera, Ebola, MPOX, and polio, as well as humanitarian intervention in conflict zones such as Sudan, Ukraine and Gaza.
Gaza has been helping out more than 7,300 medical evacuations since the second half of 2023, but more than 10,000 patients say they need emergency care.
Looking ahead: Who has transformed?
The WHO Chief has closed looking at the future direction of the agency, shaped by the lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic. He highlighted new initiatives in pandemic intelligence, vaccine development and digital health. This includes expanding work on artificial intelligence and supporting the transfer of mRNA technology to 15 countries.
We also restructured our headquarters to reduce the management and streamlining departments.
“Our current crisis is an opportunity,” concluded Dr. Tedros. “Together, we do that.”
