78th World Health Assembly Advances Global Health Unity and Pandemic Preparedness
Geneva, Switzerland (May 20, 2025) The 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78), the principal decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), is being held from May 19 to 27, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland. Bringing together delegates from all Member States, WHA78 serves as a critical platform to shape global health priorities and strengthen international cooperation under the WHO’s leadership.
The Assembly officially opened with the election of Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, Secretary of Health of the Philippines, as President of the Assembly. The newly elected Vice-Presidents represent WHO’s six regions, reinforcing the Assembly’s commitment to equity and shared leadership across global health governance.
In his High-Level Welcome on May 19, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on Member States to maintain unity and momentum in a rapidly changing world. Emphasizing the centrality of resilient primary healthcare, equitable access, and global solidarity, he noted that: “This Assembly marks a turning point where ambition must meet accountability to protect every person, everywhere.”
WHA78 builds on a global call for equity, preparedness, and resilience. The overarching message echoed throughout the Assembly emphasizes the importance of multilateral cooperation, accountability, and investment in strong primary healthcare systems. Delegates are expected to explore ways to accelerate universal health coverage, strengthen pandemic prevention, and secure sustainable funding for health system transformation. These priorities reflect a collective understanding that health security and equity must go hand in hand.
A historic moment in the Assembly’s early days was the formal adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, a milestone aimed at improving the global community’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to pandemics. The agreement was endorsed by Member States in Committee sessions and later formally adopted, following years of negotiations shaped by lessons from COVID-19. It addresses equitable distribution of medical supplies, stronger national health systems, and mechanisms for information-sharing and coordinated action.
In addition to these landmark decisions, WHA78 features several Strategic Roundtables, starting Tuesday, May 20, where WHO experts, delegates, partner agencies, and civil society come together to explore concrete solutions to pressing health issues from climate resilience to digital health equity. These sessions aim to foster collaboration and policy coherence across sectors.
For ongoing updates, including livestream access, agendas, and daily documents, visit the official WHA78 landing page.
For those unfamiliar with WHO’s governing processes, an explainer on the WHO and the WHA is available here.
To read Dr. Tedros’ full welcome address, visit the official WHO speech page here.
To explore the details of the adopted Pandemic Agreement, see WHO’s official press release here.
You can also review the earlier Committee approval story here.