The Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland on 21 May 2025, highlighted urgent discussions on health financing strategies amidst abrupt cuts in external funding for health. Ministers emphasized the necessity for country-driven solutions and a heightened focus on health data systems to navigate the current crisis. This dialogue, co-hosted by WHO and the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, stressed the importance of countries reducing reliance on external health information and financing, advocating for resilient domestic systems to safeguard access to essential services.
During the assembly, Professor Senait Fisseha and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus set the stage for transformative changes in health financing policies and data infrastructure. They urged nations to seize this pivotal moment to reshape data and financing models in alignment with local needs and priorities. The call to action emphasized the political significance of data and financing decisions in determining the equitable delivery and quality of healthcare services, underscoring the imperative for sustainable, scalable solutions rooted in fairness and efficiency.
Ministers from various countries, including Barbados, Egypt, Malawi, and Sierra Leone, together with representatives from the African Union and the World Bank, shared insights on enhancing data systems and financing mechanisms. They highlighted the importance of collaboration and leveraging digital innovations to bolster transparency and accountability. Strategies discussed encompassed strengthening tax administration, exploring diverse revenue sources, implementing health coverage schemes, strategic procurement practices, and integrating external programs into national health priorities.
Later in the week, the assembly was set to deliberate on the proposed WHA Health Financing Resolution, aiming to further solidify commitments towards sustainable healthcare financing models. Additionally, a report on WHO’s humanitarian efforts in the occupied Palestinian territory and the occupied Syrian Golan underscored the critical need for continued support to restore essential health services in conflict-affected regions.
Member States expressed deep concerns over the deteriorating health systems in Gaza, emphasizing the urgency of collective actions to address pressing health needs amidst challenging circumstances. Draft decisions were put forth to sustain reporting on health conditions in the occupied territories and to support health systems in Palestine and Syria, underscoring the ongoing commitment to humanitarian aid and health system resilience in conflict zones.
The assembly’s deliberations shed light on the evolving landscape of global health governance and the imperative for adaptive, data-driven financing strategies to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare services worldwide. As nations navigate the complexities of healthcare financing in a rapidly changing landscape, the assembly serves as a platform for collaborative efforts towards sustainable health systems and resilient data infrastructure.
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