The Overlooked Decisions of the 79th World Health Assembly 25/05/2026 Stefan Anderson GENEVA — Hundreds of hours of formal negotiations and corridor-side bargaining in the halls of the United Nations (UN) Palais des Nations and World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters this week ended on Saturday afternoon – more or less on schedule, an outcome rare enough at the UN to be cause for celebration. The sunshine, Mont […] Continue reading -> EXCLUSIVE: World Health Assembly Declines to Recognize Argentina’s Withdrawal From WHO 22/05/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen After a full day of intense diplomatic debate, the World Health Assembly adopted a last-minute compromise text on Friday declining formal recognition of Argentina’s withdrawal notification, and leaving the nation’s legal status unresolved. GENEVA – Delegates at the Seventy-Ninth World Health Assembly in Geneva reached a compromise regarding Argentina’s withdrawal from the global health body. […] Continue reading -> World Health Assembly Condemns Iranian Strikes on Gulf States, Health Fallout of Hormuz Closure 21/05/2026 Stefan Anderson GENEVA – The World Health Assembly (WHA) voted 91-2 to adopt a resolution condemning Iranian attacks on civilian infrastructure across Gulf countries amid its war with the United States and Israel. The resolution condemns “in the strongest terms” the Iranian attacks on civilians and civilian objects in Gulf states and Jordan, citing damage to “medical […] Continue reading -> EXCLUSIVE: World Health Assembly to Suspend USA’s Voting Rights, Retains Iran’s 21/05/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen & Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO member states on Thursday agreed to suspend the voting rights of the United States in the World Health Assembly as of May 2027 if some $280 million in outstanding 2024–25 dues remain unpaid – despite the US announcement of withdrawal last year. In the same resolution, the suspension of Iran’s voting rights was averted […] Continue reading -> Outbreak Threats, Geopolitical Divides and Financial Crises Hover Over 79th World Health Assembly 18/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher As the World Health Assembly opens on Monday in Geneva, it will have to grapple with shrinking global health budgets, new outbreak threats, including a new WHO declaration of a public health emergency in Africa over an Ebola virus strain that lacks any vaccine, and an increasingly fractured geopolitical space with deep disputes over Iran, […] Continue reading -> No Pandemic Agreement Annex by World Health Assembly, Says Civil Society 30/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan The final missing piece of the Pandemic Agreement – a pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) system – is unlikely to be agreed on by the World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month. This was the view of civil society observers of the talks taking place at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, who […] Continue reading -> US Absence Casts Shadow Over ‘Historic’ World Health Assembly 28/05/2025 Kerry Cullinan Adopting a pandemic agreement and securing a 20% increase in member states’ fees to support the World Health Organization (WHO) were the 78th World Health Assembly’s greatest achievements. “The words ‘historic’ and ‘landmark’ are overused, but they are perfectly apt to describe the adoption last Tuesday of the WHO pandemic agreement. Likewise, your approval of […] Continue reading -> United States Appears Set to Skip World Health Assembly while China Sends Over 180 Delegates to Geneva 19/05/2025 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The United States appears set to skip this year’s World Health Assembly at a historic moment when other WHO member states are expected to agree to a Pandemic Agreement, that has been nearly three years in the making. A provisional list of WHA delegates, published late Sunday night by WHO, included no reference at all […] Continue reading -> Climate Change Threatens Progress Against Malaria, Countries Warn at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju The fight against malaria is facing a new and urgent challenge as climate change and extreme weather events threaten to undermine decades of progress, according to warnings from several countries at the 77th World Health Assembly this week. “Recent extreme weather events such as flooding in Malawi and other countries have intensified malaria transmission, disproportionately […] Continue reading -> Gavi Urges Countries to Prioritize Zero-Dose Children at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju At the 77th World Health Assembly, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, urged nations to prioritize vaccinating “zero-dose” children, particularly those in regions affected by humanitarian crises and complex emergencies. These children have not received any shots, putting them at a higher risk of preventable diseases. “We are scaling up routine immunization and reaching the estimated 14.3 […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
EXCLUSIVE: World Health Assembly Declines to Recognize Argentina’s Withdrawal From WHO 22/05/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen After a full day of intense diplomatic debate, the World Health Assembly adopted a last-minute compromise text on Friday declining formal recognition of Argentina’s withdrawal notification, and leaving the nation’s legal status unresolved. GENEVA – Delegates at the Seventy-Ninth World Health Assembly in Geneva reached a compromise regarding Argentina’s withdrawal from the global health body. […] Continue reading -> World Health Assembly Condemns Iranian Strikes on Gulf States, Health Fallout of Hormuz Closure 21/05/2026 Stefan Anderson GENEVA – The World Health Assembly (WHA) voted 91-2 to adopt a resolution condemning Iranian attacks on civilian infrastructure across Gulf countries amid its war with the United States and Israel. The resolution condemns “in the strongest terms” the Iranian attacks on civilians and civilian objects in Gulf states and Jordan, citing damage to “medical […] Continue reading -> EXCLUSIVE: World Health Assembly to Suspend USA’s Voting Rights, Retains Iran’s 21/05/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen & Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO member states on Thursday agreed to suspend the voting rights of the United States in the World Health Assembly as of May 2027 if some $280 million in outstanding 2024–25 dues remain unpaid – despite the US announcement of withdrawal last year. In the same resolution, the suspension of Iran’s voting rights was averted […] Continue reading -> Outbreak Threats, Geopolitical Divides and Financial Crises Hover Over 79th World Health Assembly 18/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher As the World Health Assembly opens on Monday in Geneva, it will have to grapple with shrinking global health budgets, new outbreak threats, including a new WHO declaration of a public health emergency in Africa over an Ebola virus strain that lacks any vaccine, and an increasingly fractured geopolitical space with deep disputes over Iran, […] Continue reading -> No Pandemic Agreement Annex by World Health Assembly, Says Civil Society 30/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan The final missing piece of the Pandemic Agreement – a pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) system – is unlikely to be agreed on by the World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month. This was the view of civil society observers of the talks taking place at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, who […] Continue reading -> US Absence Casts Shadow Over ‘Historic’ World Health Assembly 28/05/2025 Kerry Cullinan Adopting a pandemic agreement and securing a 20% increase in member states’ fees to support the World Health Organization (WHO) were the 78th World Health Assembly’s greatest achievements. “The words ‘historic’ and ‘landmark’ are overused, but they are perfectly apt to describe the adoption last Tuesday of the WHO pandemic agreement. Likewise, your approval of […] Continue reading -> United States Appears Set to Skip World Health Assembly while China Sends Over 180 Delegates to Geneva 19/05/2025 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The United States appears set to skip this year’s World Health Assembly at a historic moment when other WHO member states are expected to agree to a Pandemic Agreement, that has been nearly three years in the making. A provisional list of WHA delegates, published late Sunday night by WHO, included no reference at all […] Continue reading -> Climate Change Threatens Progress Against Malaria, Countries Warn at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju The fight against malaria is facing a new and urgent challenge as climate change and extreme weather events threaten to undermine decades of progress, according to warnings from several countries at the 77th World Health Assembly this week. “Recent extreme weather events such as flooding in Malawi and other countries have intensified malaria transmission, disproportionately […] Continue reading -> Gavi Urges Countries to Prioritize Zero-Dose Children at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju At the 77th World Health Assembly, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, urged nations to prioritize vaccinating “zero-dose” children, particularly those in regions affected by humanitarian crises and complex emergencies. These children have not received any shots, putting them at a higher risk of preventable diseases. “We are scaling up routine immunization and reaching the estimated 14.3 […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
World Health Assembly Condemns Iranian Strikes on Gulf States, Health Fallout of Hormuz Closure 21/05/2026 Stefan Anderson GENEVA – The World Health Assembly (WHA) voted 91-2 to adopt a resolution condemning Iranian attacks on civilian infrastructure across Gulf countries amid its war with the United States and Israel. The resolution condemns “in the strongest terms” the Iranian attacks on civilians and civilian objects in Gulf states and Jordan, citing damage to “medical […] Continue reading -> EXCLUSIVE: World Health Assembly to Suspend USA’s Voting Rights, Retains Iran’s 21/05/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen & Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO member states on Thursday agreed to suspend the voting rights of the United States in the World Health Assembly as of May 2027 if some $280 million in outstanding 2024–25 dues remain unpaid – despite the US announcement of withdrawal last year. In the same resolution, the suspension of Iran’s voting rights was averted […] Continue reading -> Outbreak Threats, Geopolitical Divides and Financial Crises Hover Over 79th World Health Assembly 18/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher As the World Health Assembly opens on Monday in Geneva, it will have to grapple with shrinking global health budgets, new outbreak threats, including a new WHO declaration of a public health emergency in Africa over an Ebola virus strain that lacks any vaccine, and an increasingly fractured geopolitical space with deep disputes over Iran, […] Continue reading -> No Pandemic Agreement Annex by World Health Assembly, Says Civil Society 30/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan The final missing piece of the Pandemic Agreement – a pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) system – is unlikely to be agreed on by the World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month. This was the view of civil society observers of the talks taking place at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, who […] Continue reading -> US Absence Casts Shadow Over ‘Historic’ World Health Assembly 28/05/2025 Kerry Cullinan Adopting a pandemic agreement and securing a 20% increase in member states’ fees to support the World Health Organization (WHO) were the 78th World Health Assembly’s greatest achievements. “The words ‘historic’ and ‘landmark’ are overused, but they are perfectly apt to describe the adoption last Tuesday of the WHO pandemic agreement. Likewise, your approval of […] Continue reading -> United States Appears Set to Skip World Health Assembly while China Sends Over 180 Delegates to Geneva 19/05/2025 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The United States appears set to skip this year’s World Health Assembly at a historic moment when other WHO member states are expected to agree to a Pandemic Agreement, that has been nearly three years in the making. A provisional list of WHA delegates, published late Sunday night by WHO, included no reference at all […] Continue reading -> Climate Change Threatens Progress Against Malaria, Countries Warn at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju The fight against malaria is facing a new and urgent challenge as climate change and extreme weather events threaten to undermine decades of progress, according to warnings from several countries at the 77th World Health Assembly this week. “Recent extreme weather events such as flooding in Malawi and other countries have intensified malaria transmission, disproportionately […] Continue reading -> Gavi Urges Countries to Prioritize Zero-Dose Children at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju At the 77th World Health Assembly, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, urged nations to prioritize vaccinating “zero-dose” children, particularly those in regions affected by humanitarian crises and complex emergencies. These children have not received any shots, putting them at a higher risk of preventable diseases. “We are scaling up routine immunization and reaching the estimated 14.3 […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
EXCLUSIVE: World Health Assembly to Suspend USA’s Voting Rights, Retains Iran’s 21/05/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen & Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO member states on Thursday agreed to suspend the voting rights of the United States in the World Health Assembly as of May 2027 if some $280 million in outstanding 2024–25 dues remain unpaid – despite the US announcement of withdrawal last year. In the same resolution, the suspension of Iran’s voting rights was averted […] Continue reading -> Outbreak Threats, Geopolitical Divides and Financial Crises Hover Over 79th World Health Assembly 18/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher As the World Health Assembly opens on Monday in Geneva, it will have to grapple with shrinking global health budgets, new outbreak threats, including a new WHO declaration of a public health emergency in Africa over an Ebola virus strain that lacks any vaccine, and an increasingly fractured geopolitical space with deep disputes over Iran, […] Continue reading -> No Pandemic Agreement Annex by World Health Assembly, Says Civil Society 30/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan The final missing piece of the Pandemic Agreement – a pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) system – is unlikely to be agreed on by the World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month. This was the view of civil society observers of the talks taking place at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, who […] Continue reading -> US Absence Casts Shadow Over ‘Historic’ World Health Assembly 28/05/2025 Kerry Cullinan Adopting a pandemic agreement and securing a 20% increase in member states’ fees to support the World Health Organization (WHO) were the 78th World Health Assembly’s greatest achievements. “The words ‘historic’ and ‘landmark’ are overused, but they are perfectly apt to describe the adoption last Tuesday of the WHO pandemic agreement. Likewise, your approval of […] Continue reading -> United States Appears Set to Skip World Health Assembly while China Sends Over 180 Delegates to Geneva 19/05/2025 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The United States appears set to skip this year’s World Health Assembly at a historic moment when other WHO member states are expected to agree to a Pandemic Agreement, that has been nearly three years in the making. A provisional list of WHA delegates, published late Sunday night by WHO, included no reference at all […] Continue reading -> Climate Change Threatens Progress Against Malaria, Countries Warn at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju The fight against malaria is facing a new and urgent challenge as climate change and extreme weather events threaten to undermine decades of progress, according to warnings from several countries at the 77th World Health Assembly this week. “Recent extreme weather events such as flooding in Malawi and other countries have intensified malaria transmission, disproportionately […] Continue reading -> Gavi Urges Countries to Prioritize Zero-Dose Children at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju At the 77th World Health Assembly, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, urged nations to prioritize vaccinating “zero-dose” children, particularly those in regions affected by humanitarian crises and complex emergencies. These children have not received any shots, putting them at a higher risk of preventable diseases. “We are scaling up routine immunization and reaching the estimated 14.3 […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Outbreak Threats, Geopolitical Divides and Financial Crises Hover Over 79th World Health Assembly 18/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher As the World Health Assembly opens on Monday in Geneva, it will have to grapple with shrinking global health budgets, new outbreak threats, including a new WHO declaration of a public health emergency in Africa over an Ebola virus strain that lacks any vaccine, and an increasingly fractured geopolitical space with deep disputes over Iran, […] Continue reading -> No Pandemic Agreement Annex by World Health Assembly, Says Civil Society 30/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan The final missing piece of the Pandemic Agreement – a pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) system – is unlikely to be agreed on by the World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month. This was the view of civil society observers of the talks taking place at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, who […] Continue reading -> US Absence Casts Shadow Over ‘Historic’ World Health Assembly 28/05/2025 Kerry Cullinan Adopting a pandemic agreement and securing a 20% increase in member states’ fees to support the World Health Organization (WHO) were the 78th World Health Assembly’s greatest achievements. “The words ‘historic’ and ‘landmark’ are overused, but they are perfectly apt to describe the adoption last Tuesday of the WHO pandemic agreement. Likewise, your approval of […] Continue reading -> United States Appears Set to Skip World Health Assembly while China Sends Over 180 Delegates to Geneva 19/05/2025 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The United States appears set to skip this year’s World Health Assembly at a historic moment when other WHO member states are expected to agree to a Pandemic Agreement, that has been nearly three years in the making. A provisional list of WHA delegates, published late Sunday night by WHO, included no reference at all […] Continue reading -> Climate Change Threatens Progress Against Malaria, Countries Warn at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju The fight against malaria is facing a new and urgent challenge as climate change and extreme weather events threaten to undermine decades of progress, according to warnings from several countries at the 77th World Health Assembly this week. “Recent extreme weather events such as flooding in Malawi and other countries have intensified malaria transmission, disproportionately […] Continue reading -> Gavi Urges Countries to Prioritize Zero-Dose Children at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju At the 77th World Health Assembly, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, urged nations to prioritize vaccinating “zero-dose” children, particularly those in regions affected by humanitarian crises and complex emergencies. These children have not received any shots, putting them at a higher risk of preventable diseases. “We are scaling up routine immunization and reaching the estimated 14.3 […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
No Pandemic Agreement Annex by World Health Assembly, Says Civil Society 30/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan The final missing piece of the Pandemic Agreement – a pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) system – is unlikely to be agreed on by the World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month. This was the view of civil society observers of the talks taking place at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, who […] Continue reading -> US Absence Casts Shadow Over ‘Historic’ World Health Assembly 28/05/2025 Kerry Cullinan Adopting a pandemic agreement and securing a 20% increase in member states’ fees to support the World Health Organization (WHO) were the 78th World Health Assembly’s greatest achievements. “The words ‘historic’ and ‘landmark’ are overused, but they are perfectly apt to describe the adoption last Tuesday of the WHO pandemic agreement. Likewise, your approval of […] Continue reading -> United States Appears Set to Skip World Health Assembly while China Sends Over 180 Delegates to Geneva 19/05/2025 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The United States appears set to skip this year’s World Health Assembly at a historic moment when other WHO member states are expected to agree to a Pandemic Agreement, that has been nearly three years in the making. A provisional list of WHA delegates, published late Sunday night by WHO, included no reference at all […] Continue reading -> Climate Change Threatens Progress Against Malaria, Countries Warn at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju The fight against malaria is facing a new and urgent challenge as climate change and extreme weather events threaten to undermine decades of progress, according to warnings from several countries at the 77th World Health Assembly this week. “Recent extreme weather events such as flooding in Malawi and other countries have intensified malaria transmission, disproportionately […] Continue reading -> Gavi Urges Countries to Prioritize Zero-Dose Children at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju At the 77th World Health Assembly, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, urged nations to prioritize vaccinating “zero-dose” children, particularly those in regions affected by humanitarian crises and complex emergencies. These children have not received any shots, putting them at a higher risk of preventable diseases. “We are scaling up routine immunization and reaching the estimated 14.3 […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
US Absence Casts Shadow Over ‘Historic’ World Health Assembly 28/05/2025 Kerry Cullinan Adopting a pandemic agreement and securing a 20% increase in member states’ fees to support the World Health Organization (WHO) were the 78th World Health Assembly’s greatest achievements. “The words ‘historic’ and ‘landmark’ are overused, but they are perfectly apt to describe the adoption last Tuesday of the WHO pandemic agreement. Likewise, your approval of […] Continue reading -> United States Appears Set to Skip World Health Assembly while China Sends Over 180 Delegates to Geneva 19/05/2025 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The United States appears set to skip this year’s World Health Assembly at a historic moment when other WHO member states are expected to agree to a Pandemic Agreement, that has been nearly three years in the making. A provisional list of WHA delegates, published late Sunday night by WHO, included no reference at all […] Continue reading -> Climate Change Threatens Progress Against Malaria, Countries Warn at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju The fight against malaria is facing a new and urgent challenge as climate change and extreme weather events threaten to undermine decades of progress, according to warnings from several countries at the 77th World Health Assembly this week. “Recent extreme weather events such as flooding in Malawi and other countries have intensified malaria transmission, disproportionately […] Continue reading -> Gavi Urges Countries to Prioritize Zero-Dose Children at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju At the 77th World Health Assembly, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, urged nations to prioritize vaccinating “zero-dose” children, particularly those in regions affected by humanitarian crises and complex emergencies. These children have not received any shots, putting them at a higher risk of preventable diseases. “We are scaling up routine immunization and reaching the estimated 14.3 […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
United States Appears Set to Skip World Health Assembly while China Sends Over 180 Delegates to Geneva 19/05/2025 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The United States appears set to skip this year’s World Health Assembly at a historic moment when other WHO member states are expected to agree to a Pandemic Agreement, that has been nearly three years in the making. A provisional list of WHA delegates, published late Sunday night by WHO, included no reference at all […] Continue reading -> Climate Change Threatens Progress Against Malaria, Countries Warn at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju The fight against malaria is facing a new and urgent challenge as climate change and extreme weather events threaten to undermine decades of progress, according to warnings from several countries at the 77th World Health Assembly this week. “Recent extreme weather events such as flooding in Malawi and other countries have intensified malaria transmission, disproportionately […] Continue reading -> Gavi Urges Countries to Prioritize Zero-Dose Children at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju At the 77th World Health Assembly, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, urged nations to prioritize vaccinating “zero-dose” children, particularly those in regions affected by humanitarian crises and complex emergencies. These children have not received any shots, putting them at a higher risk of preventable diseases. “We are scaling up routine immunization and reaching the estimated 14.3 […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Climate Change Threatens Progress Against Malaria, Countries Warn at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju The fight against malaria is facing a new and urgent challenge as climate change and extreme weather events threaten to undermine decades of progress, according to warnings from several countries at the 77th World Health Assembly this week. “Recent extreme weather events such as flooding in Malawi and other countries have intensified malaria transmission, disproportionately […] Continue reading -> Gavi Urges Countries to Prioritize Zero-Dose Children at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju At the 77th World Health Assembly, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, urged nations to prioritize vaccinating “zero-dose” children, particularly those in regions affected by humanitarian crises and complex emergencies. These children have not received any shots, putting them at a higher risk of preventable diseases. “We are scaling up routine immunization and reaching the estimated 14.3 […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Gavi Urges Countries to Prioritize Zero-Dose Children at World Health Assembly 01/06/2024 Paul Adepoju At the 77th World Health Assembly, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, urged nations to prioritize vaccinating “zero-dose” children, particularly those in regions affected by humanitarian crises and complex emergencies. These children have not received any shots, putting them at a higher risk of preventable diseases. “We are scaling up routine immunization and reaching the estimated 14.3 […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts