World Health Assembly

The focus of the 61st WHA was public health. Participants from 190 countries attended, with a record 2704 delegates.[10] Important briefings and resolutions involved intellectual property barriers in research and development; combatting non-communicable diseases and female genital mutilation; campaigns to support breastfeeding and to decrease abuse of alcohol and tobacco; immunization practices, including adoption of the term "pharma fraud"; and health issues facing migrants.[10][11][12]

In her role as global patron of The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, and chair of the Maternal Mortality Campaign, Sarah Brown gave the keynote speech at the World Health Organization's 62nd WHA, alongside United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,[13] asking "Where is the M in MCH?' [maternal and child health]" in an echo of Allan Rosenfield's landmark Lancet article of 1985 – and highlighting that the numbers of women dying in pregnancy and childbirth were still the same 14 years later.[14]

Among other actions, the 65th Assembly endorsed the Rio Political Declaration to address the social determinants of health, intended to spearhead support for all countries to adopt inclusive Health For All approaches to health promotion.[15] It also endorsed the first World Immunization Week.[16]

In her address to the 66th WHA in May 2013, DGWHO Margaret Chan traced a brief history of revisions to the International Health Regulations following the SARS outbreak in 2002–3, the "first severe new disease of the 21st century." She observed that the two new diseases WHO is dealing with in 2013 are the novel coronavirus (MERS), from the same family as SARS, detected in 2012 in Saudi Arabia, and the first-ever human infections with the H7N9 avian influenza virus reported in China in 2013.[17] She attributed the positive report by the World Health Statistics (May 2013) on dramatic improvement in health in the world's poorest countries from 1993 to 2013, to the emphasis placed on poverty alleviation by the Millennium Development Goals.[17] She announced the emergence of global action plans for noncommunicable diseases, mental health, and the prevention of avoidable blindness and visual impairment calling for a life course approach which includes "equity through universal health coverage," preventive strategies and "integrated service delivery."[17]

Chan declared at the assembly that intellectual property, or patents on strains of new virus, should not impede nations from protecting their citizens by limiting scientific investigations. Following the 2012 MERS outbreak, Saudi Arabia Deputy Minister of Health Ziad Memish raised concerns that scientists who applied for a patent would not allow the MERS-Coronavirus to be used for investigations by other scientists and were, therefore, delaying the development of diagnostic tests. Ten of the 22 people who died and 22 of 44 cases reported were in Saudi Arabia.[18] Saudi Arabia–based microbiologist Ali Mohamed Zaki reported the first known case, a 60-year-old Saudi man who got sick in June, 2012 on ProMed-mail, a public health on-line forum[19] then published more details including the virus's genetic makeup and closest relatives.[19][20] The Erasmus Medical Center "tested, sequenced and identified" a sample provided by Ali Mohamed Zaki.[21] Erasmus MC and Dr. Zaki strongly refuted all allegations concerning a presumed lack of willingness to cooperate in research into the new MERS coronavirus, making diagnostic tests and virus specimens freely available to all research institutions around the globe.[22]

The 67th WHA took place in Geneva on May 19–24, 2014. Among the more than 20 resolutions adopted by the Assembly included ones concerning strengthening of national drug management systems to address antimicrobial resistance; implementation of the Minamata Convention to protect human health and the environment from effects of exposure to mercury and mercury compounds; and improving access to essential medicines worldwide.[23] Also endorsed was a global monitoring framework for maternal, infant and child nutrition.[24][25]

Following the 67th WHA, DGWHO Chan was criticized by the Association of Correspondents Accredited to the United Nations (ACANU) for not having spoken directly to the media during the course of the Assembly.[26]

The 68th session of the WHA took place in Geneva on May 18–26, 2015. Jagat Prakash Nadda assumed the presidency of WHA. India assumed the presidency after a gap of 19 years.

During the assembly the WHA agreed to the Global Malaria Strategy and Programme Budget for 2016–2017, polio, International Health Regulations, strengthening surgical care, WHO's reform of its emergency and response programme, antimicrobial resistance, immunization gaps, malnutrition, air pollution, and epilepsy. Annual health awards were given by the DGWHO and the President of WHA.[27]

The 69th World Health Assembly took place on May 23–28, 2016, and agreed to pursue the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a comprehensive set of foundational steps, prioritizing universal health coverage, working with actors outside the health sector to address the social, economic and environmental root causes of antimicrobial resistance and other human health problems, to continue expanding efforts to address poor maternal and child health and infectious diseases in developing countries, and to focus upon equity within and between countries. Delegates decided to invite the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control's (WHO FCTC) Conference of the Parties (COP) to provide information on outcomes of this biennial event to future World Health Assembly meetings.

The 70th World Health Assembly took place on May 22–31, 2017. For the first time since 2009, Taiwan was completely excluded from the WHA, following the election of Tsai Ing-wen and subsequent political pressure from China.[28]

The 71st World Health Assembly took place on May 21–26, 2018.[29]

Australia, Chile, China, Djibouti, Finland, Gabon, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Romania, Sudan, and United States of America were elected to the executive board.[30]

The 72nd World Health Assembly took place on May 20–28, 2019. Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Grenada, Guyana, Kenya, Singapore, Tajikistan, Tonga, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates were elected to the executive board.[31] The President of WHA72 was Dr Bounkong Syhavong of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.[32]

The 73rd World Health Assembly took place virtually on May 18–19, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[33][34]

Keva Bain of The Bahamas was selected President of WHA73.[35][36] Botswana, Colombia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, India, Madagascar, Oman, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland were elected to the executive board. Harsh Vardhan of India became the chairman of the executive board.

Multiple countries, led by the United States, called for the reinstatement of Taiwan's observer status in protest against Chinese pressure.[35]

On May 25, delegates reached a consensus to hold a special session in November 2021 to consider the International Treaty on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.[37]

The 74th World Health Assembly took place virtually on 24 May-1 June 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 event focused on the theme, "Ending this pandemic, preventing the next: building together a healthier, safer and fairer world".[38]

The WHA gathered for a special session (only the second in the history of the WHO) on 29 November 2021, to draft and negotiate an International Treaty on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.[39]

The 75th World Health Assembly took place on 22-28 May 2022. The theme of the 2022 Health Assembly was: Health for peace, peace for health.[40]

The 76th World Health Assembly took place on 21-30 May 2023. The theme of the 2023 Health Assembly was: WHO at 75: Saving lives, driving health for all.[41]

"#TaiwanCanHelp" installation art displayed in front of the Palace of Nations in Geneva during the 2023 World Health Assembly

Taiwan was invited as an observer to the WHA for 8 years between 2008 and 2016, under the name "Chinese Taipei".[42][43] However, since the 71st WHA in 2017, Chinese pressure has prevented Taiwan's participation in the WHA.[44] Representatives from many countries, including the U.S. secretary of health and human services Alex Azar, have voiced support for Taiwan's inclusion in the Assembly in opposition to China's coercion and threats.[45][46][47]