"78th World Health Assembly Convened in Geneva, Switzerland from 19–27 May 2025 – Part I".

International

The 78th session of the World Health Assembly (WHA 78), the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), was held from May 19 to 27, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme "One World for Health."


      - Teodoro J. Herbosa, Health Secretary of the Philippines, was elected as the President of WHA 78.

      - In May 2025, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi addressed WHA 78 through video-conferencing, emphasizing India’s commitment to global health and cooperation.

      - The Indian delegation to the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA 78) was led by Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW). During the assembly, India was honored with the Certification of Elimination of Trachoma as a Public Health Problem, presented by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Main Point :-   (i) Ahead of WHA 78 in May 2025, the WHO released its mid-term Results Report 2024–25, highlighting global health progress despite rising financial uncertainties. The report reflected ongoing efforts by WHO and its member states to strengthen public health systems and tackle emerging challenges.

      (ii) On the sidelines of the Assembly, WHO launched its new guideline on balanced national policies for controlled medicines, aimed at helping countries ensure safe, equitable, and affordable access to essential controlled substances, particularly in pain management and palliative care.

(iii) During WHA 78, WHO member states approved a new budget featuring a 20% increase in assessed contributions (annual membership fees), expected to generate an additional USD 90 million annually. In addition, global leaders pledged at least USD 210 million for the 2025–2028 Investment Round, bringing total funds raised under the initiative to approximately USD 1.7 billion.
About WHO

Director-General: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
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