World Health Assembly Topic: Pandemic Flu Financing, Virus Sharing, Extension

17/05/2017 Catherine Saez

There are many who see the World Health Organization mechanism to prepare and face the next influenza pandemic and insure availability of treatments as a success. However, some questions remain. Continue reading ->

IP-Watch Guide To 2017 World Health Assembly: Election, Budget, Antibiotics, Cancer, R&D And More

16/05/2017 Catherine Saez

In a few days, the 70th World Health Assembly will open its doors in Geneva with a marathon agenda, and over 4,000 registered delegates. The election of a new director general, the approval of the budget for the next biennium (2018/2019) are set to capture the attention of member states. However, many other subjects require their consideration, such as a resolution on cancer treatment costs, research and development for epidemic diseases, for new antibiotics, for medicines affecting primarily poor populations, access to medicines, and the influenza pandemic preparedness framework. Continue reading ->

Longest, Biggest World Health Assembly Ever Set To Open With Election, Budget Topping Agenda

12/05/2017 Catherine Saez

The 70th World Health Assembly opening in a few days is the WHA of superlatives, according to a World Health Organization’s official. It is the longest assembly ever, with nine days of meeting, the largest number delegates, of agenda items, and of documents. It is also when the new WHO new director general will be elected, and when the WHO next budget is expected to be approved. Continue reading ->

Near Unanimous Adoption of UN Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health – Only US and Argentina Opposed

16/12/2025 Kerry Cullinan

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour of a political declaration to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and promote mental health on Monday, with 175 member states voting in favour, only the United States and Argentina voting against, and Paraguay as the only abstention. The declaration was due to have been adopted by […] Continue reading ->

Still Possible to Divert from Disastrous Climate Path to Sustainable, Healthy Planet, says UNEP

09/12/2025 Chetan Bhattacharji

A baby born today will turn 75 in 2100, and the world that child will inherit as an adult – if governments don’t act in the next five years – could be 3.9°C hotter, economically shattered, and ravaged by pollution. But there is still a choice, a new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report demonstrates. […] Continue reading ->

Regional Investment in Health is Key for Sustainable Development

02/12/2025 Michael Weinstein & Mehdi Jomaa

As the world navigates a pivotal moment in global health and development, one of the most critical pathways to sustainable development is through regional public health. Investing in regional health systems and production capacity of public health goods isn’t just a moral responsibility; it is an economic imperative. A 2020 McKinsey & Company report revealed […] Continue reading ->

Brazil Wins Limited Backing for COP30 Climate-Health Plan, But Nations Commit No Finance

13/11/2025 Stefan Anderson

Brazil launched a sweeping climate-health action plan on Thursday, named after the COP30 host city in the Amazon, winning initial endorsements from roughly two dozen countries for a voluntary framework calling on nations to strengthen disease surveillance, build climate-resilient infrastructure, and protect vulnerable populations from the health impacts of rising temperatures and extreme weather. The […] Continue reading ->

Building Africa’s Health Sovereignty: From Dependence to Partnership

11/11/2025 Muhammad Ali Pate

In August, African leaders gathered in Accra, Ghana, to chart a path for the continent’s future in public health. Their message was unequivocal: Africa’s political independence is incomplete without the power to shape its own development – including the health of its people. The Africa Health Sovereignty Summit was a demand to break free from […] Continue reading ->

EXCLUSIVE: US Blocking Consensus on G20 Health Ministers’ Statement

07/11/2025 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

The United States, backed by Argentina, was reportedly blocking the G20 consensus on the final G20 Health Ministers’ statement – following their fourth and final working group meeting of the year Friday in Limpopo, South Africa, Health Policy Watch has learned. In a visible snub to the rest of the group, the US delegation also […] Continue reading ->

From Texas to the G20: The Man Leading the World’s Brain Health Movement

31/10/2025 Maayan Hoffman

As the G-20 Health Ministers meeting takes place next week in Johannesburg, South Africa, a new global coalition is trying to put Alzheimer’s and dementia-related diseases on the priority list of the world’s major economies; and there’s one man who stands out as a driving force behind this movement. In his video “Leadership Lessons from […] Continue reading ->