The effort is high for this year’s World Health Assembly, the UN’s leading health forum, where officials will tackle a sweeping agenda-from pandemic emergency preparedness and climate-related health risks for mental health, maternal care and environmental justice. But with geopolitical tensions that run high, international cooperation on these and other important issues will be tested.
Here are some of the most important areas set to dominate discussion:
1. ‘Caution Optimism’: Registration on a Pandemic Agreement
The Covid-19 pandemic showed that there are sharp inequalities in access to diagnostics, treatments and vaccines, both within and between countries. The health care system was overwhelmed, economies were seriously disturbed, and nearly seven million lives were lost.
This was the motivation for the countries to meet to work on an agreement to ensure that the world handles the next pandemic in a more just and more effective way. When the delegations arrive at Geneva on Monday 19 May, they will smooth the text of the agreement, such as Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), described as “important for future generations.”
If the agreement is adopted, it will be a major breakthrough in the way the world handles pandemics and health crises. However, negotiations remain politically delicate: Multiple nations, including the United States, have raised concerns about national sovereignty and intellectual property. In recent weeks, Dr. Tedros still expressed “cautious optimism” that agreement can be reached.
A woman wearing a mask, Malawi.
2. Climate change: an existential threat
The climate crisis is not just about rising temperatures – it puts life at risk. Extreme weather and disease outbreaks are increasing and threatening millions of millions of health. An action plan created by WHO calls for climate and health policies to work together, strengthen resilience and ensure funding to protect vulnerable societies.
A draft version of the plan was released following a decision adopted at the 2024 conference, and this year delegates to end the draft, which includes strategies to adapt and mitigate climate-related health risks.
3. Health for all: to get universal healthcare back on the field
To ensure that all people have affordable access to the full range of high quality healthcare services they need is one of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) that all UN Member States signed up in 2015. However, the health target is far away: In fact, healthcare improvements are stagnated in the last ten years.
Nevertheless, Universal Health Care (UHC) will be a highest priority in the assembly, where delegates will discuss strategies to strengthen the primary health systems, ensure sustainable financing and provide care for vulnerable populations.
4. Healthy beginning: Mothers and newborn health
Close to 300,000 women lose their lives due to pregnancy or childbirth each year, while over two million babies die in their first month of life in April, launching a year -long campaign to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
Titled “Healthy Beginning, Happy Futures”, it will encourage governments and health communities to increase efforts to end preventable mothers and newborn deaths and to prioritize women’s long-term health and well-being.
Expect new goals and renewed obligations to end preventable deaths to be advertised at the assembly.
5. Closing the holes: Non -Communication Diseases
Non -transferable diseases (NCDs), such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, kill tens of thousands of millions of people every year. About three -quarters of these deaths are in countries with low and middle income.
Many lives could be saved if several countries had strong national answers, which provided detection, screening and treatment as well as palliative care.
In preparation for a WHO meeting on NCDs and mental health in September, delegates will review how the UN Health Agency collaborates with governments, civil society and the private sector to prevent and control these diseases and tackle ways to improve access to essential medicines and health technologies.
6. Get the economy in order
This year has been described as one of the most challenging ever at the UN being buffeted by extreme pressure on its economy. The United States, a major donor announced that it would leave who in January and other countries have also cut down development and aid financing.
This year’s Assembly will see Member States negotiating an increase of 50 percent in the basic budget, something that has been in the works since the meeting in 2022. If a increase in financing is approved, it will give an important boost to a challenging time. Further voluntary contributions are also seeking and further promises from Member States and philanthropic organizations are expected.
Follow the sessions at the World Health Assembly here.
