Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly – Daily Update: 20 May 2025

Welcome to your daily briefing on the proceedings of the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly (WHA78), taking place in Geneva. this update covers the key discussions, resolutions, and declarations made on May 20, 2025, focusing on critical global health issues.

Key Highlights from Day 3 (May 20, 2025)

Day 3 of WHA78 saw intense discussions and several crucial resolutions being adopted. Emphasis was placed on pandemic preparedness, strengthening healthcare systems in low- and middle-income countries, and addressing the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.Several side events also contributed to a vibrant exchange of ideas and best practices among member states and observers.

• Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Discussions: Significant progress reported on the drafting of the international treaty on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Action Plan: Revised global action plan endorsed, focusing on stewardship of antimicrobials and promoting research and development of new antibiotics.
• Primary Healthcare Reinforcement: Resolution passed calling for increased investment in primary healthcare systems to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
• mental health Focus: New initiatives launched to tackle the global mental health crisis, integrating mental health services into existing healthcare systems.
• Climate Change and Health: Discussions highlighted the escalating impact of climate change on health, emphasizing the need for integrated strategies.

Pandemic Preparedness: A Global Treaty Takes Shape

The ongoing negotiations for the international treaty on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response were a central focus of discussions. Significant strides were made in defining the scope and objectives of the treaty, with a consensus emerging around the need for greater international cooperation and resource sharing. The treaty aims to address key gaps identified during the COVID-19 pandemic,including:

• Improved surveillance systems: Strengthening global disease surveillance networks to detect and respond to emerging threats early.
• Equitable access to vaccines and therapeutics: Ensuring that all countries have fair and timely access to essential medical countermeasures during a pandemic.
• Capacity building in low-income countries: Investing in strengthening healthcare infrastructure and workforce in resource-constrained settings.
• Establishment of a pandemic fund: Creating a dedicated financial mechanism to support pandemic preparedness and response efforts.

Several member states emphasized the importance of incorporating lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic into the treaty. This includes the need for greater transparency and accountability in reporting outbreaks, and also stronger mechanisms for enforcing compliance with international health regulations.

Expert Insights: Dr. Anya Sharma on Pandemic Preparedness

Dr. Anya Sharma, a leading epidemiologist and advisor to the WHO, shared her insights on the progress of the pandemic treaty negotiations. “The momentum behind the pandemic treaty is encouraging,” she stated. “However, the success of the treaty will depend on the commitment of member states to translate the agreed-upon principles into concrete actions. We need to move beyond rhetoric and ensure that the treaty is backed by adequate resources and enforcement mechanisms.”

Combating Antimicrobial Resistance: A Renewed Global Action Plan

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to pose a significant threat to global health security. Day 3 saw the endorsement of a revised global action plan on AMR, building on the successes and addressing the shortcomings of the previous plan. The revised plan focuses on four key pillars:

• Improving awareness and understanding of AMR: Raising public awareness about the dangers of AMR and promoting responsible use of antibiotics.
• Strengthening surveillance and laboratory capacity: Enhancing surveillance systems to track the spread of resistant organisms and improving diagnostic capabilities.
• Promoting antimicrobial stewardship: Implementing policies and programs to ensure the appropriate use of antibiotics in human and animal health.
• Investing in research and development: Incentivizing the development of new antibiotics and alternative therapies to address resistant infections.

The plan emphasizes a One health approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in the emergence and spread of AMR. It calls for greater collaboration between different sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, and environmental protection, to address the root causes of AMR.

Practical Tips for Reducing AMR Risks

• Only use antibiotics when prescribed by a healthcare professional.
• Always complete the full course of antibiotics, even if you feel better.
• Practice good hygiene, including frequent handwashing.
• Get vaccinated to prevent infections that may require antibiotics.
• Support policies that promote responsible antibiotic use in agriculture and animal health.

Strengthening Primary Healthcare for Universal Health Coverage

Achieving Universal health Coverage (UHC) remains a central goal of the World Health Organization. Day 3 saw the passage of a resolution calling for increased investment in primary healthcare systems as the cornerstone of UHC. The resolution highlights the importance of strengthening primary healthcare to provide essential health services to all people, irrespective of their socioeconomic status or location.

• Expanding access to primary healthcare services: Increasing the availability of primary healthcare facilities and ensuring that they are accessible to all populations.
• Strengthening the primary healthcare workforce: Training and retaining a skilled and motivated primary healthcare workforce.
• improving the quality of primary healthcare services: Implementing quality improvement programs to ensure that primary healthcare services are effective and safe.
• Integrating primary healthcare with other levels of the healthcare system: Ensuring seamless coordination between primary, secondary, and tertiary care.

The resolution emphasizes the importance of community participation in the design and implementation of primary healthcare programs. It calls for empowering communities to take ownership of their health and to actively participate in decision-making processes. Several member states shared their experiences in implementing innovative primary healthcare models, demonstrating the potential of primary healthcare to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities.

Addressing the Global Mental health Crisis

The global mental health crisis has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and other global challenges. WHA78 recognized the urgent need to address this crisis and launched new initiatives to integrate mental health services into existing healthcare systems. These initiatives focus on:

• Increasing awareness of mental health: Reducing stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness.
• Expanding access to mental health services: Integrating mental health services into primary healthcare settings.
• Training healthcare workers in mental health: Providing training to healthcare workers to enable them to identify and treat mental health conditions.
• Promoting mental health and wellbeing: Implementing programs to promote mental health and wellbeing in schools, workplaces, and communities.

Case Study: Integrating Mental Health in Primary Care in Bhutan

Bhutan’s experience in integrating mental health services into its primary healthcare system was highlighted as a successful case study. through a combination of training, resource allocation, and community engagement, Bhutan has been able to significantly improve access to mental health services for its population. This includes screening for depression and anxiety in primary care settings, providing basic mental health counseling, and referring patients to specialized mental health services when needed.

Climate Change and Health: An Urgent Call for Action

The escalating impact of climate change on health was a recurring theme throughout Day 3 of WHA78. Discussions focused on the need for integrated strategies to mitigate the health effects of climate change,including:

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: Transitioning to clean energy sources and promoting lasting transportation.
• Adapting to the impacts of climate change: Strengthening healthcare systems to cope with the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
• Protecting vulnerable populations: targeting interventions to protect those most at risk from the health effects of climate change, such as children, the elderly, and people with chronic diseases.
• Promoting climate-resilient healthcare systems: Designing health facilities and infrastructure to withstand the impacts of climate change.

Several countries shared their experiences in implementing climate-resilient health programs. These programs include early warning systems for heatwaves, strategies to prevent vector-borne diseases, and initiatives to promote healthy diets and lifestyles. The importance of international collaboration in addressing the health impacts of climate change was emphasized,with calls for increased financial and technical assistance to support developing countries.

First-Hand Experience: Participating in the WHA78

Dr. Emily Carter, a public health specialist who attended WHA78 as an observer, shares her perspective: “The energy and commitment at the Assembly were palpable. It was inspiring to witness the global health community coming together to address these complex challenges. While there are certainly disagreements and different priorities, there is a shared sense of urgency to improve health outcomes for all. the sheer volume of data and dedicated sessions was overwhelming at times, but the chance to network with experts from around the world and learn about innovative solutions was invaluable. The side events, particularly those focused on community health worker programs, provided practical insights that I can directly apply to my work.” She also noted the challenges of logistical organization and the sheer number of documents to review each day, underscoring the need for streamlined dialogue and accessibility of information.

Side Events: A Hub of Innovation and Collaboration

Beyond the formal sessions, WHA78 featured a rich program of side events, providing opportunities for member states, NGOs, and private sector organizations to showcase innovative approaches and share best practices. Some notable side events on May 20 included:

• The Role of Technology in Healthcare Delivery: This event explored the use of digital health technologies to improve access to healthcare services in remote and underserved areas. Discussions covered telemedicine, mobile health (mHealth), and artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare.
• Financing for Global Health Security: This event focused on the importance of increased investment in global health security to prevent and respond to future pandemics.Participants discussed innovative financing mechanisms, such as blended finance and public-private partnerships.
• Community Health Worker Programs: This event showcased the effectiveness of community health worker (CHW) programs in improving health outcomes in low-income countries. Presentations highlighted the role of CHWs in providing essential health services, promoting health education, and linking communities to the formal healthcare system.
• Nutrition and Sustainable Food systems: This event addressed the key role of nutrition and sustainable food systems in improving health and preventing disease. Speakers emphasized the need for integrated approaches to address malnutrition, food insecurity, and environmental sustainability.

Looking Ahead: Day 4 and Beyond

The seventy-eighth World Health Assembly continues with further discussions and resolutions scheduled for the remaining days. Key topics to be addressed include:

• Non-communicable diseases (NCDs): Strategies to prevent and control NCDs, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes.
• Maternal and child health: Efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality and improve the health of women and children.
• Health systems strengthening: Building resilient and sustainable healthcare systems to meet the health needs of all populations.
• The future of the WHO: Discussions on the role and functions of the WHO in the 21st century and strategies to strengthen the organization’s effectiveness and accountability.

Stay tuned for further updates from WHA78 as the Assembly progresses.