Geneva: The World Health Assembly (WHA) has elected Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa as president of its 78th Session (WHA78), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday. The WHA, taking place from May 19 to 27 in Geneva, Switzerland, is the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO) and convenes annually to address pressing global health issues.
According to Philippines News Agency, Herbosa, who is currently presiding over plenary meetings of the Assembly, emphasized the importance of transformational partnerships among nations. He highlighted the projected shortfall of an estimated 10 million health workers by 2030 and stressed the necessity for collective action among states. Herbosa remarked on the strain this shortage places on health systems and individuals, noting that no single country can tackle this challenge alone.
Herbosa expressed the desire to revitalize the role of WHO in strengthening capacities and providing technical support to ensure equitable and sustainable development of the health workforce. The WHA78 is deliberating on key agenda items such as the Pandemic Agreement and a resolution led by the Philippines on accelerating action for the global health and care workforce.
The Assembly is also set to discuss issues like non-communicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance, universal health coverage, and institutional matters including the WHO program budget and ongoing reforms to enhance operational effectiveness.
The DFA stated that Herbosa's presidency of WHA78, a first for the Philippines, signifies the country's commitment to global health multilateralism, focusing on equity, compassion, and dedication to underserved populations. The Philippines' priorities at WHA78 are aligned with its Eight-Point Action Agenda for Health 2023-2028, which addresses initiatives on HIV, tuberculosis, mental health, universal health care, primary health care, and health workforce development.
The Philippines holds positions on several key multilateral bodies, such as the Stop TB Partnership Board, the UN Health4Life Fund Steering Committee, the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board, and the WHO Emergency Medical Teams Advisory Board. It represents the Western Pacific region on the Pandemic Fund Governing Board and hosts the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office.
