Amid mounting global challenges, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called on member states to reaffirm their commitment to collective health goals and uphold multilateral cooperation as a foundation for a healthier and more equitable world.
Speaking at the opening session of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva on Monday, Dr. Ghebreyesus emphasized the importance of solidarity and long-term vision in addressing global health threats.
“We are here not to serve our own interests, but those of the eight billion people across the globe. Our mission is to build a legacy of health, peace, and equity for future generations. It is achievable,” he stated.
The WHA, the WHO’s supreme decision-making body, is convening through May 27 with delegations from 194 member states. This year’s agenda focuses on pressing global health challenges including climate change, antimicrobial resistance, digital health innovation, and the final negotiations on the long-awaited Pandemic Accord.
The proposed pandemic treaty, which has been under negotiation for three years, aims to prevent the fragmented international responses witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic. If adopted, it would mark only the second legally binding global health instrument under the WHO framework, following the 2003 Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Dr. Ghebreyesus highlighted progress in several key areas, including a global one-third reduction in smoking rates since the adoption of the tobacco treaty. He commended countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Oman, and Vietnam for strengthening their regulatory frameworks on tobacco and e-cigarette use.
He also reported ongoing efforts to enhance air quality, develop climate-resilient health systems, and scale up maternal and child health services. Notable milestones included a global immunization coverage rate of 83% and successful disease elimination campaigns, with Cabo Verde, Egypt, and Georgia officially certified malaria-free.
Nevertheless, the Director-General raised concerns about financial sustainability. A projected funding gap of $500 million for the next biennium could significantly constrain WHO’s operational capacity. Member states are expected to deliberate on a proposed 20% increase in assessed contributions as part of a revised $4.2 billion budget for 2026–2027—down from an earlier estimate of $5.3 billion.
Dr. Ghebreyesus underscored the imbalance in global resource allocation, contrasting the WHO’s modest budget with global military expenditures and the tobacco industry’s annual advertising outlay. He urged nations to reassess their funding priorities in alignment with shared human and public health values.
The outcome of the 78th WHA is expected to shape the direction of global health governance, with implications for pandemic preparedness, equitable healthcare access, and the future of international public health cooperation.
