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Thursday, 22 May 2025
Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly
Daily update: 22 May 2025
[https://www.who.int/news/item/22-05-2025-seventy-eighth-world-health-assembly—daily-update–22-may-2025]
Health progress despite financial challenges
Thursday’s Committee B noted the Results Report 2024, and the financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2024–2025. Member States commended the transparency, and the level of detail provided. At the same time, Member States noted with concern that while some important achievements have been realized, progress is insufficient in reaching the SDG targets. In addition, Member States also advocated for more equitable funding across the Organization. The committee approved decision 78/17 Add.1 and 78/17 Add.2.
Delegates welcomed WHO’s Investment Round (IR), which will fund the Organization’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work – 2025–2028 (GPW 14) – its global health strategy for the next four years that has the potential to save 40 million lives if fully funded. By April 2025, pledges of US$ 1.7 billion had been received. During the Health Assembly at least an additional US $210 million was committed, with further amounts expected. Since the start of the Investment Round, 62 pledges have been made by Member States, with a further 20 pledges by philanthropic organizations. Of the 62 pledgers, 35 had not previously provided voluntary contributions to WHO.
The pledges not only assure more sustainable financing but show global solidarity in the face of unprecedented challenges. The committee called for increased efforts to secure predictable, resilient and flexible funding.
Related Documents:
A78/17 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_17-en.pdf] Results report 2024 and financial report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 A78/17 Add.1 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_17Add1-en.pdf] Draft decision: Results report 2024 (Programme budget 2024–2025: performance assessment) and Financial report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 A78/17 Add.2 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_17Add2-en.pdf] Draft decision: Partial and temporary suspension of Financial Regulation VIII, 8.2 A78/18 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_18-en.pdf] Audited Financial Statements for the year ended A78/36 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_36-en.pdf] Results report 2024 (Programme budget 2024–2025: performance assessment) and Financial report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 A78/INF./3 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_INF3-en.pdf] Voluntary contributions by fund and by contributor, 2024 A78/19 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_19-en.pdf] Financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2024–2025 A78/20 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_20-en.pdf] Financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2024–2025: Reporting on operational efficiencies A78/INF./4 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_INF4-en.pdf] Financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2024–2025 WHO presence in countries, territories and areas A78/21 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_21-en.pdf] Sustainable financing: WHO investment round A78/37 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_37-en.pdf] Proposed programme budget 2026–2027 – Sustainable financing: WHO investment round (Report of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board to the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly)
Strengthening health emergency preparedness and response
On 21–22 May 2025, the World Health Assembly discussed WHO’s work in health emergencies. Over the last year, WHO responded to 51 graded emergencies across 89 countries and territories, including global outbreaks of cholera and mpox – a public health emergency of international concern – as well as multiple humanitarian crises. Working with over 900 partners across 28 health clusters, WHO helped provide health assistance for 72 million people in humanitarian settings. Nearly 60% of new emergencies were climate-related, highlighting the growing health impacts of climate change.
Member States noted the WHO Director-General’s report on the implementation of the health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience (HEPR) framework. The report outlined progress made in the key areas of collaborative disease surveillance, community protection, safe and scalable care, access to medical countermeasures and emergency coordination, and stressed that insufficient and unpredictable funding poses a significant risk to health systems worldwide.
Delegates noted the report of the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee (IOAC) for WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme. The report presents several recommendations to the Director-General aimed at strengthening WHO’s work in emergencies. The chair of the IOAC commended WHO’s leadership – particularly that of Dr Mike Ryan, the outgoing Executive Director of the Health Emergencies Programme, for his pivotal role and contributions to global health.
The Director-General also reported on Universal Health and Preparedness Review (UHPR) to the Assembly, a unique process for Member States to assess their health emergency preparedness. UHPR was launched in November 2020 as a voluntary, country-led mechanism, in response to early lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Related documents:
A78/13 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_13-en.pdf] WHO’s work in health emergencies A78/12 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_12-en.pdf] Health emergencies preparedness and response: The Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme A78/9 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_9-en.pdf]Strengthening the global architecture for health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience A78/4 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_4-en.pdf] Consolidated report by the Director-General (including UHPR)
International Health Regulations remain a cornerstone of global health security
Member States noted the Director-General’s report on progress made in implementing the International Health Regulations (2005), which outline the rights and obligations of countries in managing public health events and emergencies that have the potential to cross borders.
In 2024, WHO assessed over 1.2 million raw signals related to public health risks, identifying and verifying 429 events with potential or actual international public health implications.
All countries but one provided their self-assessment report to the Assembly. Numerous joint external evaluations, after- and intra-action reviews, and training were conducted to strengthen preparedness and response capacities.
Member States recommended to the Assembly the adoption of a decision for the Director-General to notify Palestine of the International Health Regulations (2005). This is a step prior to Palestine expressing interest in becoming a States Party to the Regulations. This follows the resolution approved during the World Health Assembly last year on aligning the participation of Palestine in WHO with its participation in the United Nations.
The Assembly also noted the Standing Recommendations issued by the Director-General on COVID-19 (valid until April 2026) and mpox (valid until August 2025).
At last year’s World Health Assembly, Member States adopted historic amendments to the Regulations, drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. The amendments are expected to come into force in September 2025.
Related documents:
A78/11 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_11-en.pdf] Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) A78/A/CONF./4 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_ACONF4-en.pdf] Notifying the International Health Regulations (2005) to Palestine Resolution WHA77.15 (2024): [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA77/A77_R15-en.pdf] Aligning the participation of Palestine in the World Health Organization with its participation in the United Nations A78/INF./6 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_INF6-en.pdf] Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) Extension of the standing recommendations for mpox A78/INF./7 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_INF7-en.pdf] Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) Extension of the standing recommendations for COVID-19
Member States urge research into public health and social measures to control outbreaks and pandemics
Member States approved a decision related to public health and social measures, urging the strengthening of the research base on these interventions. Public health and social measures are nonpharmaceutical interventions used to reduce the spread of an infectious disease and lower hospitalizations and death. Examples include screening for diseases, personal hygiene measures and changing the way people gather or travel. These measures played an important role in buying time for countries to develop and distribute treatments, diagnostics and vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the evidence base on the effectiveness of these measures remains limited.
Related documents:
EB156/2025/REC/1, decision EB156(31) [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/B156_REC1_EXT-en.pdf] Strengthening the evidence-base for public health and social measures
WHO’s response to health needs in Ukraine and refugee-hosting countries
Delegates noted the Director-General’s report on the implementation of a resolution on WHO’s response to the health emergency triggered by the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine. In 2024, WHO reached an estimated 4.7 million people with health support in Ukraine and more than 400 000 refugees in neighbouring countries. WHO delivered over US$ 32.5 million worth of medicines, medical equipment and supplies to health facilities across Ukraine, and over US$ 4.9 million worth of supplies and equipment to refugee-hosting countries. Since 24 February 2022, a total of 2254 attacks on health care have been verified, resulting in 710 injuries and 208 deaths.
Member States voted on related decisions. The draft decision proposed by Ukraine and other countries to continue, among other things, to restore and strengthen Ukraine’s health-care system was approved. Suggested amendments to the draft decision proposed by the Russian Federation and other countries were rejected.
Related documents:
A78/14 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_14-en.pdf] Implementation of resolution WHA75.11 (2022) A78/A/CONF./3 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_ACONF3-en.pdf] Health emergency in Ukraine and refugee-receiving and -hosting countries, stemming from the Russian Federation’s aggression A78/A/CONF./3 Add.1 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_ACONF3Add1-en.pdf] Amendments proposed by Belarus, China, Nicaragua and the Russian Federation A78/A/CONF./3 Add.2 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_ACONF3Add2-en.pdf] Financial and administrative implications for the Secretariat of decisions proposed for adoption by the Health Assembly
Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem
Delegates noted the Director-General’s report on the current health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, with the Gaza Strip facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with widespread displacement, destruction and death. The health system has been severely degraded by attacks, critical shortages of medicines, supplies and fuel, and restricted access. The report stated that between 1 January 2024 and 28 February 2025, 376 attacks on health care were reported in the Gaza Strip, resulting in 286 deaths and 591 injuries.
The health crisis in the West Bank has worsened since January 2025, with escalating violence and stricter restrictions on movement impeding access to health care.
WHO’s response has focused on providing essential health services, public health surveillance, disease prevention and control, provision of supplies and logistics, and partner coordination. The report stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, unrestricted humanitarian access and protection of health.
Member States noted the report and commended WHO’s efforts towards the continuity of health services under difficult conditions. Delegates approved an accompanying resolution.
Related documents:
A78/15 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_15-en.pdf] [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_15-en.pdf]Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem EB156/2025/REC/1, resolution EB156.R3 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB156/B156_R3-en.pdf] Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem
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