Information in this document is accurate as of 22 May 2025 21:30

Journal  No. 5  23 May 2025

This Journal is intended to give delegates, representatives and other participants advance indications of the Health Assembly’s tentative programme of work. Additional information can be found in the Guide for delegates to the World Health Assembly (document A78/DIV./2).

The Journal does not constitute an official record of the Health Assembly’s proceedings. The Journal is published in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish on every working day during the Health Assembly.

N° 5 Programme of meetings for Friday, 23 May 2025

Time	Plenary Room XIX	Committee A Room XX	Committee B Room XVII
09:00	Sixth Plenary meeting
Immediately following the closure of Plenary		Eighth meeting	Fourth meeting
14:30		Ninth meeting	Fifth meeting

Table of contents

1. Date and working hours

2. Programme of work of the Health Assembly

3. Report of meetings

4. Meetings and official side-events

5. Announcements

1. Date and working hours

The Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly opened on Monday, 19 May 2025 at 09:00. The working hours of the Health Assembly are from 09:00 to 12:00 and 14:30 to 17:30 (CEST). The Health Assembly will close no later than Tuesday, 27 May 2025, as decided by the Executive Board at its 156th session.

2. Programme of work of the Health Assembly

Friday, 23 May 2025

Sixth Plenary meeting — Building E Room XIX

09:00

Awards

-  Document A78/INF./1

Executive Board: election

-  Document A78/46

Eighth and ninth meetings of Committee A — Building E Room XX

Immediately following the closure of Plenary and 14:30

Draft third report of Committee A

Document (Draft) A78/48 containing two resolutions entitled:

-  Strengthening the evidence-base for public health and social measures

-  Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem

And two decisions entitled:

-  Notifying the International Health Regulations (2005) to Palestine

-  Health emergency in Ukraine and refugee-receiving and -hosting countries, stemming from the Russian Federation’s aggression

Item 17.5

Poliomyelitis

-  Document A78/4

The role of the global coordination mechanism on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in WHO’s work on multistakeholder engagement for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: report on independent evaluation

-  Document A78/INF./2

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

Item 13.1 continued

Follow-up to the political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases

o   Reducing the burden of noncommunicable diseases through strengthening prevention and control of diabetes (resolution WHA74.4 (2021))

o   Oral health (resolution WHA74.5 (2021))

o   Comprehensive mental health action plan 2013–2030 (resolution WHA77.3 (2024) and decision WHA74(14) (2021))

o   Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem and its associated goals and targets for the period 2020–2030 (resolution WHA73.2 (2020))

-  Documents A78/4, A78/4 Add.3, EB156/2025/REC/1, decisions EB156(18), EB156(19), EB156(20), EB156(21) and EB156(22)

Item 13.2

Mental health and social connection

-  Documents A78/4, A78/A/CONF./2 and A78/A/CONF./2 Add.1

Item 13.3

Universal health coverage

o   Primary healthcare

-  Documents A78/4 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decisions EB156(14), EB156(15), EB156(16) and EB156(17)

Item 13.4

Communicable diseases

-  Documents A78/4 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decisions EB156(23) and EB156(24)

o   Global road map on defeating meningitis by 2030

-  Document A78/4

Item 13.5

Substandard and falsified medical products

-  Documents A78/4 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decision EB156(25)

If time permits:

Item 13.6

Standardization of medical devices nomenclature

-  Document A78/4

Item 13.7

Health and care workforce

o   WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel

-  Documents A78/4 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decision EB156(26)

o   Global strategy on human resources for health: workforce 2030

-  Documents s A78/4 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decision EB156(27)

Item 13.8

Draft global traditional medicine strategy 2025–2034

-  Documents A78/4, A78/4 Add.1 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decision EB156(28)

Item 13.9

Global strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health

-  Documents A78/4 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decisions EB156(29) and EB156(30)

Fourth and fifth meetings of Committee B — Building E Room XVII

Immediately following the closure of Plenary and 14:30

Draft second report of Committee B

Document (draft) A78/47 containing five resolutions entitled:

-  Scale of assessments 2026–2027

-  Status of collection of assessed contributions, including Member States in arrears in the payment of their contributions to an extent that would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution

-  Special arrangements for settlement of arrears: Lebanon

-  Salaries of staff in ungraded positions and of the Director General

-  Facts anterior

And four decisions entitled:

-  Results report 2024 (Programme budget 2024–2025: performance assessment) and Financial report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024

-  Partial and temporary suspension of Financial Regulation VIII, 8.2

-  Report of the External Auditor

-  Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board  
Management, legal and governance matters

Item 24.2 continued

Global strategies and plans of action that are scheduled to expire within one year

o   Global strategic directions for nursing and midwifery 2021–2025

-  Documents A78/4 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decision EB156(34)

o   Global strategy on digital health 2020–2025

-  Documents A78/4 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decision EB156(35)

o   Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017–2025

-  Documents A78/4 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decision EB156(36)

o   Comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant and young child nutrition 2012–2025

-  Documents A78/4 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decision EB156(37)

Item 24.3

International Health Regulations (2005): proposed procedure for the correction of errors in the text of the instrument

-  Documents A78/4, A78/INF./5 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decision EB156(38)

Reassignment of Indonesia from the South-East Asia Region to the Western Pacific Region

-  Documents A78/31 and A78/31 Add.1

Matters for information

Item 28.1 progress reports

-  Document A78/34 Rev.1

Discussion of agenda item 28 will be grouped as follows (Pillar 1 A–G), (Pillar 2 H & I) & (Pillar 3 J–O)

Pillar 1: One billion more people benefiting from universal health coverage

A.    Strengthening diagnostic capacity (resolution WHA76.5 (2023))

B.    [the relevant subject matter should be considered under Pillar 3 as report O]

C.   Integrated emergency, critical and operative care for universal health coverage and protection from health emergencies (resolution WHA76.2 (2023))

D.   Global strategy on infection prevention and control (resolution WHA75.13 (2022))

E.    Strengthening local production of medicines and other health technologies to improve access (resolution WHA74.6 (2021))

F.    Eradication of dracunculiasis (resolution WHA64.16 (2011))

G.   Global action on patient safety (resolution WHA72.6 (2019) and decision WHA74(13) (2021))

Pillar 2: One billion more people better protected from health emergencies

H.   Enhancement of laboratory biosafety (resolution WHA58.29 (2005))

I.      Smallpox eradication: destruction of variola virus stocks (resolution WHA60.1 (2007))

Pillar 3: One billion more people enjoying better health and well-being

J.     WHO global strategy on health, environment and climate change: the transformation needed to improve lives and well-being sustainably through healthy environments (decision WHA74(24) (2021))

K.    Plan of action on climate change and health in small island developing States (decision WHA72(10) (2019))

L.    Behavioural sciences for better health (resolution WHA76.7 (2023))

M.   Accelerating action on global drowning prevention (resolution WHA76.18 (2023))

N.   WHO global plan of action to strengthen the role of the health system within a national multisectoral response to address interpersonal violence, in particular against women and girls, and against children (resolution WHA69.5 (2016)) and Ending violence against children through health systems strengthening and multisectoral approaches (resolution WHA74.17 (2021))

O.   WHO global action plan on promoting the health of refugees and migrants, 2019–2030 (resolution WHA76.14 (2023))

If time permits:

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

Item 18.2

Updated road map for an enhanced global response to the adverse health effects of air pollution

-  Documents A78/4 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decision EB156(33)

 

Saturday, 24 May 2025

Tenth meeting of Committee A — Building E Room XX

09:00

Review and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

Item 13.6

Standardization of medical devices nomenclature

-  Document A78/4

Item 13.7

Health and care workforce

o   WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel

-  Documents A78/4 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decision EB156(26)

o   Global strategy on human resources for health: workforce 2030

-  Documents s A78/4 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decision EB156(27)

Item 13.8

Draft global traditional medicine strategy 2025–2034

-  Documents A78/4, A78/4 Add.1 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decision EB156(28)

Item 13.9

Global strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health

-  Documents A78/4 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decisions EB156(29) and EB156(30)

Sixth meeting of Committee B — Building E Room XVII

09:00

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

Item 18.1

The impact of chemicals, waste and pollution on human health

-  Documents A78/4, A78/A/CONF./1, A78/A/CONF./1 Add.1 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decision EB156(32)

Item 18.3

Climate change and health

-  Documents A78/4, A78 Add.2, A78/4 Add.4 and EB156/2025/REC/1, decision EB156(40)

Monday, 26 May 2025

Eleventh and twelfth meetings of Committee A — Building E Room XX

09:00 and 14:30

Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

-  Document A78/7 Rev.1

Antimicrobial resistance

-  Documents A78/8 and A78/8 Add.1

Seventh and eighth meetings of Committee B — Building E Room XVII

09:00 and 14:30

Agreements with intergovernmental organizations

-  Document A78/32

Collaboration within the United Nations system and with other intergovernmental organizations

-  Documents A78/33, A78/33 Add.1, A78/B/CONF./2 and A78/B/CONF./2 Add.1

Tuesday, 27 May 2025

Thirteenth meeting of Committee A — Building E Room XX

09:00

Finalization of resolutions/decisions and reports

Ninth meeting of Committee B — Building E Room XVII

09:00

Finalization of resolutions/decisions and reports

Seventh Plenary meeting — Building E Room XIX

Immediately after conclusion of Committees A and B

Reports of the main committees

Draft second report of Committee A

Document (Draft) A78/44 containing one resolution entitled:

-  Programme budget 2026-2027

And one decision entitled:

-  Process for handling and investigating potential allegations against WHO Directors-General

Draft first report of Committee B

Document (draft) A78/45, containing one decision entitled:

-  Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan

Draft third report of Committee A

Document (Draft) A78/48 containing two resolutions entitled:

-  Strengthening the evidence-base for public health and social measures

-  Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem

And two decisions entitled:

-  Notifying the International Health Regulations (2005) to Palestine

-  Health emergency in Ukraine and refugee-receiving and -hosting countries, stemming from the Russian Federation’s aggression

Draft second report of Committee B

Document (draft) A78/47 containing five resolutions entitled:

-  Scale of assessments 2026–2027

-  Status of collection of assessed contributions, including Member States in arrears in the payment of their contributions to an extent that would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution

-  Special arrangements for settlement of arrears: Lebanon

-  Salaries of staff in ungraded positions and of the Director General

-  Facts anterior

And four decisions entitled:

-  Results report 2024 (Programme budget 2024–2025: performance assessment) and Financial report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024

-  Partial and temporary suspension of Financial Regulation VIII, 8.2

-  Report of the External Auditor

-  Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee

Closure of the Health Assembly

3. Report of meetings

Sixth meeting of Committee A

In the Chair:
Dr Esperance Luvindao (Namibia)

Health emergency preparedness and response

Item 16.1 continued

Strengthening the global architecture for health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience

Item 16.3 continued

Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005)

Item 16.4 continued

The Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

Item 17.1 continued

WHO’s work in health emergencies

Item 17.4 continued

Universal Health and Preparedness Review

The Chair reopened this grouping of agenda subitems and invited the Committee to provide guidance on the questions in documents A78/9, A78/11, and A78/13. Delegations who had requested to speak at the previous meeting of the Committee were invited to take the floor.

At the invitation of the Chair, Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean and Dr Michael Ryan, Deputy Director-General and Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme, addressed the Committee.

The Committee noted the reports contained in documents A78/9, A78/11, A78/12, A78/13 and A78/4 and approved the draft resolution entitled Strengthening the evidence-base for public health and social measures as contained in decision EB156(31).

The Committee was invited to consider the draft decision contained in document A78/A/CONF./4.

In accordance with Rule 73 of the Rules of Procedure, a recorded vote was taken. The vote resulted in 112 votes in favour to 2 votes against, with 19 abstentions and 48 Member States absent.

In accordance with Rule 75 of the Rules of Procedure, the outcomes of the recorded votes will be available at: https://apps.who.int/gb/e/e_outcomes_of_recorded_votes.html

The draft decision contained in document A78/A/CONF./4 was approved.

This grouping of agenda subitems was suspended and the meeting adjourned.

Second meeting of Committee B

In the Chair:
Mrs Katarzyna Drążek-Laskowska (Poland)

Draft first report of Committee B

The Chair opened the meeting and called upon the Rapporteur, Dr Abdulrahman Alqashaan (Kuwait), to read out the draft first report of Committee B, document (draft) A78/45 containing one decision entitled:

-  Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan

The draft first report of Committee B was adopted.

Budget and financial matters

Item 21.1

Results Report 2024 (Programme budget 2024-2025: performance assessment) and financial report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024

Item 21.2

Financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2024-2025

Item 21.3

Sustainable financing: WHO investment round

The Chair opened the grouped agenda subitems and invited the Chair of the Programme Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board to present her remarks relating to items recommended by PBAC for consideration at the World Health Assembly. The Chair opened the floor for discussion and the Secretariat responded to questions raised. The Committee noted the reports contained in documents A78/17, A78/19 and A78/20, and approved the decisions contained in documents A78/17 Add.1 and A78/17 Add.2.

Item 21.4

Scale of assessment 2025-2026

Item 21.5

Status of collection of assessed contributions, including Member States in arrears in the payment of the contributions to an extent that would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution

Item 21.6

Special arrangements for settlement of arrears

The Chair opened the grouped agenda subitems and invited the Comptroller ad. interim to provide updates. The Secretariat advised the Committee that the Central African Republic, Sierra Leone and Panama are no longer concerned by Article 7 and would be deleted from the resolution. The Chair invited comments from the floor and the Secretariat responded to questions raised. The Committee approved the resolutions contained in paragraph 3 of document A78/22, in document A78/38 as amended, and paragraph 6 of document A78/35.

The agenda item was closed.

Audit and oversight matters

Item 22.1

Report of the External Auditor

Item 22.2

Report of the Internal Auditor

Item 22.3

External and internal audit recommendations: progress on implementation

The Chair opened the grouped agenda subitems and invited the Chair of the Programme Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board to present her remarks relating to items recommended by PBAC for consideration at the World Health Assembly.

The Chair then invited the External Auditor to present the report contained in document A78/25. The Chair invited comments from the floor and the Secretariat responded to questions raised. The Committee noted the reports contained in documents A78/26 and A78/27, and approved the decision contained in document A78/40.

The agenda item was closed and the meeting was adjourned.

Seventh meeting of Committee A

In the Chair:
Dr Esperance Luvindao (Namibia)

Health emergency preparedness and response

Item 16.1 continued

Strengthening the global architecture for health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience

Item 16.3 continued

Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005)

Item 16.4 continued

The Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

Item 17.1 continued

WHO’s work in health emergencies

Item 17.4 continued

Universal Health and Preparedness Review

The Chair reopened this grouping of agenda subitems and invited delegates who wished to give an explanation of vote on the draft decision entitled Notifying the International Health Regulations (2005) to Palestine, contained in document A78/A/CONF./4.

This grouping of agenda subitems was closed.

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

Item 17.2

Implementation of resolution WHA75.11 (2022)

 

The Chair opened the agenda item and drew the Committee’s attention to relevant documents A78/14, A78/A/CONF./3, A78/A/CONF./3 Add.1 and A78/A/CONF./3 Add.2 and invited delegates to provide guidance on the questions contained in document A78/14.

The Chair referred to the white paper circulated to Member States, and proposed to proceed with the discussion in accordance with the procedure therein which was accepted by the Committee. 

Comments were invited from the floor.

 

At the invitation of the Chair, Dr Michael Ryan, Deputy Director-General and Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme, addressed the Committee followed by the WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros.

The Committee noted the report contained in document A78/14.

In accordance with Rule 73 of the Rules of Procedure, a recorded vote was taken in consideration of draft decision Health emergency in Ukraine and refugees receiving and hosting countries stemming from the Russian Federation’s aggression as contained in document A78/A/CONF./3 Add.1.

The vote resulted in 12 votes in favour to 50 votes against, with 63 abstentions and 56 Member States absent.

The proposed amendment was therefore rejected.

One delegation gave an explanation of vote under Rule 77 of the Rules of Procedure.

An electronic vote was taken on the draft decision contained in document A78/A/CONF./3

The vote resulted in 59 votes in favour to 10 votes against, with 56 abstentions and 56 Member States absent.

The proposed decision was therefore approved.

Several delegations gave an explanation of vote and the agenda subitem was closed.

Item 17.3

Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem

The Chair opened the agenda item and drew the Committee’s attention to relevant document A78/15 and invited delegates to consider the draft resolution recommended by the Executive Board in resolution EB156.R3, contained in document EB156/2025/REC/1.

The floor was opened for discussion.

At the invitation of the Chair, Dr Michael Ryan, Deputy Director-General and Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme and Director, Humanitarian Action Dr Altaf Musani, addressed the Committee. The WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros, addressed the Committee.

The Committee noted the report contained in document A78/15.

In accordance with Rule 73 of the Rules of Procedure, a recorded vote was taken in consideration of draft resolution Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem contained in document EB156.R3.

The vote resulted in 114 votes in favour to 2 votes against, with 15 abstentions and 50 Member States absent.

The resolution was therefore approved.

Several delegations gave an explanation of vote and the agenda subitem was closed.

In accordance with Rule 75 of the Rules of Procedure, the outcomes of the recorded votes will be available at: https://apps.who.int/gb/e/e_outcomes_of_recorded_votes.html

Third meeting of Committee B

In the Chair:
Dr Reina Roa (Panama)

Staffing matters

Item 23.1

Human resources: annual report

Item 23.2

Amendments to the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules

Item 23.3

Report of the International Civil Service Commission

The Chair opened the grouped agenda subitems and invited comments from the floor.  The Committee noted the reports contained in documents A78/4 and A78/28.  The Committee then approved resolutions EB156.R5 and EB156.R6 contained in document EB156/2025/REC/1.

Item 23.4

Report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board

Item 23.5

Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee

The Chair opened the grouped agenda subitems and invited comments from the floor. The Secretariat responded to questions raised and the Committee noted the report contained in document A78/29 and approved the decision contained in paragraph 7 of document A78/30. The agenda item was closed.

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

Management, legal and governance matters

Item 24.1

Prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment

The Chair opened the agenda subitem and invited comments from the floor.  The Secretariat responded to questions raised and the Committee noted the consolidated report contained in document A78/4.

Item 24.2

Global strategies and plans of action that are scheduled to expire within one year

o   Global strategic directions for nursing and midwifery 2021-2025

o   Global strategy on digital health 2020-2025

o   Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025

o   Comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant and young child nutrition 2012-2025

The Chair opened the agenda subitem and invited comments from the floor. Discussion of this agenda subitem was suspended and the meeting was adjourned.

4.  Meetings and official side-events

A number of group meetings and official side-events will be held at the Palais des Nations during the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly. Official side-events and group meetings are listed on the governing bodies website:

https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78-other-meetings/A78_other_meetings.pdf

5.  Announcements

Details concerning the outcomes of recorded votes can be found at: https://apps.who.int/gb/e/e_outcomes_of_recorded_votes.html

 

For IT support, please send an email to GBS-IT-Support@who.int.          

The public sessions will be webcast in the six UN languages. The webcasts can be viewed on Mac and PCs, as well as all mobile devices including iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows-enabled phones.

Arabic:            https://player.4am.ch/who/20250519-27_WHA78/index.html?lang=ar

Chinese:         https://player.4am.ch/who/20250519-27_WHA78/index.html?lang=zh

English:           https://player.4am.ch/who/20250519-27_WHA78/index.html?lang=en

French:           https://player.4am.ch/who/20250519-27_WHA78/index.html?lang=fr

Russian:          https://player.4am.ch/who/20250519-27_WHA78/index.html?lang=ru

Spanish:         https://player.4am.ch/who/20250519-27_WHA78/index.html?lang=es

Documents for the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly can be accessed on the Internet through the WHO website (https://apps.who.int/gb/e/e_wha78.html).

The World Health Assembly application allows you to receive updates on the WHA78 programme of work and access documentation directly on your mobile device. Scan the QR code or search for “WHO Events” in the Apple or Google Stores on your phone.

Information concerning badge distribution, arrangements for conduct of discussion in meetings, interpretation, and written and verbal statements, can be found in the Guide for delegates to the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly.

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