(AGENPARL) – Wed 21 May 2025 No images? Click here https://hq_who_departmentofcommunications.cmail20.com/t/d-e-shdukdk-iitylyihjr-u/
Wednesday, 21 May 2025
WHA Highlights
Day 3 of the 78th World Health Assembly (21 May)
The Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly [https://apps.who.int/gb/e/e_wha78.html] (WHA78) continues at the Palais des Nations in Geneva today, and will meet in Plenary, Committee A and Committee B. The detailed programme of work can be found in the Daily Journal N°3 [https://apps.who.int/gb/Journal/e/WHA78/JRN-A78-3_en.html], available in six languages of the United Nations (UN).
The live webcast of the proceedings can be accessed here [https://apps.who.int/gb/e/e_wha78.html], while provisional list of speakers can be accessed here [https://publicspace.who.int/sites/signage/agenda/p/los.aspx] (agenda item 3). Simultaneous interpretation will be available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Working hours of the Health Assembly are 09.00 to 12.00 and 14.30 to 17.30 CEST.
Highlights of the day:
Health emergency preparedness and response agenda item in Committee AReports and decisions related to the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in Committee A, including decisions on lung health approach, kidney health, sensory impairments and a designation of a World Cervical Cancer Elimination DayMental health and social connection and a related decision in Committee A (if time permits)Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan in Committee BBudget and finance matters in Committee B, including the Results Report 2024 and Sustainable financing: WHO Investment RoundData and Sustainable Financing: Twin Foundations to Accelerate UHC and the SDGs, WHA78 Ministerial Roundtable (13.00-14.30 CEST)
#AskWHO Pandemic Accord: A landmark agreement, social media live at 15.00 CEST
The plenary will continue general discussion on item 3 of the agenda, the address by WHO Director-General.
Committee A
Committee A will start the consideration of the agenda item 16 on Health emergency preparedness and response, hearing the reports of the Director-General on strengthening the global architecture for health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience ( A78/9 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_9-en.pdf]), implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) ( A78/11 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_11-en.pdf]) and on WHO’s work in health emergencies ( A78/13 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_13-en.pdf]). The Committee will also hear the report by the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme ( A78/12 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_12-en.pdf]) and will discuss the Universal Health and Preparedness Review ( A78/4 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_4-en.pdf]).
Next, the Committee will discuss the independent mid-term evaluation of the WHO global coordination mechanism [https://www.who.int/groups/gcm/about] on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases ( A78/INF./2 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_INF2-en.pdf]) and the follow-up to the political declaration [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB152/B152_6-en.pdf] of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases ( A78/4 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_4-en.pdf]). It will also consider the decisions on promoting and prioritizing an integrated lung health approach ( EB156(19) [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB156/B156_(19)-en.pdf]), promotion of kidney health and strengthening prevention and control of kidney disease ( EB156(20) [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB156/B156_(20)-en.pdf]), primary prevention and integrated care for sensory impairments including vision impairment and hearing loss ( EB156(21) [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB156/B156_(21)-en.pdf]), and a decision designating 17 November as World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day ( EB156(22) [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB156/B156_(22)-en.pdf]).
If time permits, Committee A will also take up mental health and social connection ( A78/4 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_4-en.pdf]), including a related decision ( A78/A/CONF./2 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_ACONF2-en.pdf]).
Committee B
Committee B will hold its first meeting at 14.30 CEST today. First, it will hear the report by the Director-General on the health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan ( A78/16 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_16-en.pdf]) and take action on the related decision ( A78/B/CONF./1 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_BCONF1-en.pdf]).
Next, it will address budget and finance matters, including the Results Report 2024 [https://www.who.int/news/item/12-05-2025-who-results-report-2024-shows-health-progress-across-regions-overcoming-critical-challenges] and financial report ( A78/17 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_17-en.pdf] and A78/36 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_36-en.pdf]) and the related decisions ( A78/17 Add.1 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_17Add1-en.pdf] and A78/17 Add.2 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_17Add2-en.pdf]), and the reports on Sustainable financing: WHO investment round ( A78/21 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_21-en.pdf] and A78/37 [https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_37-en.pdf]).
Side event
Data and Sustainable Financing: Twin Foundations to Accelerate UHC and the SDGs [https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2025/05/21/default-calendar/data-and-sustainable-financing-twin-foundations-to-accelerate-uhc-and-the-sdgs], WHA78 Ministerial Roundtable will convene ministers of health and finance, senior policy-makers, and development partners to explore actionable, country-led strategies that strengthen health information systems and secure sustainable financing for health.
The event will take place from 13.00 to 14.20 CEST in Room XVIII, Palais des Nations and will be live webcast here [https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2025/05/21/default-calendar/data-and-sustainable-financing-twin-foundations-to-accelerate-uhc-and-the-sdgs].
#AskWHO (social media live)
Pandemic Accord: A landmark agreement, live conversation with Ms Precious Matsoso, INB Bureau Co-Chair, Dr Jaouad Mahjour, Head, WHO Secretariat for INB and IHR Amendments and Steve Solomon, WHO Principal Legal Officer.
WHO social media channels at 15.00 CEST.
Media resources
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