Information in this document is accurate as of 23 May 2025 20:30

Journal  No. 6  24 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° 6 Programme of meetings for Saturday, 24 May 2025

Time	Committee A Room XX
09:00	Tenth

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

Restaurants:

Bar du Serpent (E Building, 1st floor): 07:30–end of Committee session.

Please note the following administrative arrangements:

Badges for Members of the Board, their alternates and advisers, and representatives of Member States and organizations invited to attend, will be issued at:

-        the Palais des Nations from 23–24 and 26–27 May from 08:00–17:00

-        WHO headquarters on 28 May from 08:00–17:00, and on 29 May 2025 from 08:00 until the closure of the Executive Board session.

Announcement

Please be advised that delegates carrying travel luggage are not permitted to enter the UNOG premises via the pedestrian path at the Pregny Gate. Individuals with luggage must make their own arrangements for storage, as luggage is not permitted on the premises.

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

Saturday, 24 May 2025

Tenth meeting of Committee A — Building E Room XX

09:00

Draft fourth report of Committee A

Document (Draft) A78/50 containing five resolutions entitled:

-        Promoting and prioritizing an integrated lung health approach

-        Reducing the burden of noncommunicable diseases through promotion of kidney health and strengthening prevention and control of kidney disease

-        Primary prevention and integrated care for sensory impairments including vision impairment and hearing loss, across the life course

-        World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day

-        Fostering social connection for global health: the essential role of social connection in combating loneliness, social isolation and inequities in health

And one decision entitled:

-        A dedicated report on mental health for WHO’s governing bodies

Review and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

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

Monday, 26 May 2025

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

09:00 and 14:30

Review and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

Item 13.6 continued

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)

Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

-        Document A78/7 Rev.1

Antimicrobial resistance

-        Documents A78/8 and A78/8 Add.1

Sixth and seventh meetings of Committee B — Building E Room XVII

09:00 and 14:30

Draft third report of Committee B

Document (draft) A78/49 containing two resolutions entitled:

-        Comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant and young child nutrition 2012–2025: extension

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

And four decisions entitled:

-        Global strategic directions for nursing and midwifery 2021–2025: extension

-        Global strategy on digital health 2020–2025: extension

-        Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017–2025: extension

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

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

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 18.2

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)

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)

 

Tuesday, 27 May 2025

Thirteenth meeting of Committee A — Building E Room XX

09:00

Finalization of resolutions/decisions and reports

Eighth 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

Draft third report of Committee B

Document (draft) A78/49 containing two resolutions entitled:

-        Comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant and young child nutrition 2012–2025: extension

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

And four decisions entitled:

-        Global strategic directions for nursing and midwifery 2021–2025: extension

-        Global strategy on digital health 2020–2025: extension

-        Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017–2025: extension

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

Draft fourth report of Committee A

Document (Draft) A78/50 containing five resolutions entitled:

-        Promoting and prioritizing an integrated lung health approach

-        Reducing the burden of noncommunicable diseases through promotion of kidney health and strengthening prevention and control of kidney disease

-        Primary prevention and integrated care for sensory impairments including vision impairment and hearing loss, across the life course

-        World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day

-        Fostering social connection for global health: the essential role of social connection in combating loneliness, social isolation and inequities in health

And one decision entitled:

-        A dedicated report on mental health for WHO’s governing bodies

Closure of the Health Assembly

3. Report of meetings

Sixth Plenary meeting

In the Chair:
Dr Teodoro Herbosa (Philippines)
President of the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly

Awards

-        Document A78/INF./1

The President welcomed the distinguished recipients of the prizes and the representatives of the foundations. The WHO Director-General Dr Tedros was invited to address the Health Assembly.

•          2025 Sasakawa Health Prize

The President announced that the 2025 Sasakawa Health Prize has been awarded to Dr Méréité Norentoft of Denmark.

Mr Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of the Nippon Foundation and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, addressed the Assembly on behalf of the Sasakawa Health Foundation.

Dr Méréité Norentoft accepted the award and addressed the Health Assembly.

•          2025 United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize

The President announced that the 2025 United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize has been awarded to Dr Yozhitsa Mauchets Zakotnik of Slovenia.

Dr Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Sector, Ministry of Health and Prevention of the United Arab Emirates, addressed the Assembly on behalf of the United Arab Emirates Health Foundation.

Dr Yozhitsa Mauchets Zakotnik accepted the award and addressed the Health Assembly.

•          2025 His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the Elderly and in Health Promotion

The President announced that the 2025 His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the Elderly and in Health Promotion of the State of Kuwait Health Promotion Foundation has been awarded jointly to Professor Huali Wang of China and the Geriatric Healthcare Directorate of the Ministry of Health of Kuwait.

His Excellency, Dr Ahmad Alawadhi, Minister of Health of the State of Kuwait, to address the Assembly on behalf of the State of Kuwait Health Promotion Foundation.

Professor Huali Wang accepted the award and addressed the Health Assembly.

Dr. Fatemah Bendhafari accepted the award on behalf of the Geriatric Healthcare Directorate and addressed the Health Assembly.

•          2025 Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health

The President announced that the 2025 Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health has been awarded to Professor Helen Rees of South Africa.

Dr Il-Soo Ha, President of the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare, addressed the Assembly on behalf of the Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Fund.

Professor Helen Rees accepted the award and addressed the Health Assembly.

•          2025 Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion

The President announced that the 2025 Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion has been awarded to Dr Meidjed Zemni of Tunisia.

His Excellency, Mr Mxolisi Nkosi, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations Office at Geneva, addressed the Assembly.

Dr Meidjed Zemni accepted the award and addressed the Assembly.

Executive Board: election

-        Document A78/46

The President drew the Health Assembly’s attention to the list of 12 Members entitled to designate a person to serve on the Executive Board as recommended by the General Committee in accordance with Rule 101 of the Rules of Procedure.

The Health Assembly accepted the list of 12 Members entitled to designate a person to serve on the Executive Board as drawn up by the General Committee in accordance with Rule 80 of the Rules of Procedure. The following were therefore declared elected:

-        Cabo Verde

-        Central African Republic

-        Egypt

-        El Salvador

-        Haiti

-        Japan

-        Nepal

-        Panama

-        Saudi Arabia

-        Serbia

-        Solomon Islands

-        Spain

The President announced that as decided by the General Committee, item 18 Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board, and its three sub-items:

-        18.1 The impact of chemicals, waste and pollution on human health

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

pollution

-        18.3 Climate change and health

under Pillar 3, will be transferred to the work of the Committee B.

The meeting was adjourned.

Eighth meeting of Committee A

In the Chair:
Dr Esperance Luvindao (Namibia)

The Chair opened the meeting and, in accordance with Rule 36 of the Rules of Procedure of the World Health Assembly, the Committee elected by acclamation, Dr Hanan Abdulghafoor Khaleel (Iraq) as Vice-Chair ad interim.

Draft third report of Committee A

The Chair opened the meeting and called upon the Rapporteur, Ms Christy Butler (Bahamas), to read out the 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

The draft third report of Committee A was adopted.

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

Item 17.5

Poliomyelitis

The Chair opened the agenda item and drew the Committee’s attention to document A78/4 and invited comments from the floor.

At the invitation of the Chair, Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean and the Secretariat addressed the Committee.

The Committee noted the relevant section in the report contained in document A78/4 and closed the agenda subitem.

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

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))

The Chair reopened the grouped agenda items and invited comments from the floor. Discussion of this agenda item was suspended and the meeting was adjourned.

Fourth meeting of Committee B

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

Draft second report of Committee B

The Chair opened the meeting and the Secretariat read out the 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

The draft second report of Committee B was adopted.

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

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 reopened the agenda subitem and invited comments from the floor. The Secretariat responded to questions raised and the Committee noted the relevant sections of the consolidated report contained in document A78/4. The Committee then approved decisions EB156(34), EB156(35) and EB156 (36), and resolution EB156(37) contained in document EB156/2025/REC/1 as amended.

Item 24.3

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

The Chair opened the agenda subitem and invited comments from the floor.  The Secretariat responded to questions raised. The Committee noted the relevant sections of the consolidated report contained in document A78/4 and approved decision EB156(38) contained in document EB156/2025/REC/1.

The agenda item was closed and the meeting was adjourned.

Ninth meeting of Committee A

In the Chair:
Dr Esperance Luvindao (Namibia)

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

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))

The Chair reopened the grouped agenda items and invited comments from the floor. At the invitation of the Chair, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific and the Secretariat addressed the Committee.

The Committee noted reports in documents A78/INF./2 and A78/4 and approved draft decision contained in decision EB156(18), and draft resolutions EB156(19), EB156(20), EB156(21), and EB156(22) and closed the agenda items.

Item 13.2

Mental health and social connection

The Chair opened the agenda item, invited delegates to consider the draft resolution contained in document A78/A/CONF./2 and opened the floor for discussion.

At the invitation of the Chair, Dr Saima Wazed Regional Director for South-East Asia and the Secretariat addressed the Committee.

The Committee noted the relevant section of the report pertaining to this discussion contained in document A78/4 and approved draft resolution contained in document A78/A/CONF./2.

The agenda subitem was closed and the meeting adjourned.

Fifth meeting of Committee B

In the Chair:
Dr Narcisco Fernandes (Timor-Leste)

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

-        Documents A78/31 and A78/31 Add.1

The Chair opened the agenda item and invited comments from the floor. The Secretariat responded to questions raised. The Committee noted the report contained in document A78/31 and approved the resolution contained in paragraph 5 of document A78/31.

The agenda item was closed.

Matters for information

Item 28.1 progress reports

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))

The Chair opened the agenda item and invited the Committee to provide their remarks on reports under Pillar 1: One billion more people benefiting from universal health coverage.  The Secretariat responded to questions raised and the discussion was closed.

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))

The Chair opened the agenda item and invited the Committee to provide their remarks on reports under Pillar 2: One billion more people better protected from health emergencies. The Secretariat responded to questions raised and the discussion was closed.

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))

The Chair opened the agenda item and invited the Committee to provide their remarks on reports under Pillar 3: One billion more people enjoying better health and well-being. The Secretariat responded to questions raised and the agenda item was closed.

The agenda subitem was closed 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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