THE Philippines will be the president-nominee in the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, in May 2025, the first time the country will lead the assembly since the World Health Organization was founded in 1948.
The nomination was made during the 75th Regional Committee Meeting of the WHO in the Western Pacific Region (WHO-WPRO), and was announced by WPRO regional director Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala after the member states in the region gained consensus to nominate the Philippines in recognition of its leadership in the region and its important voice in the international health arena.
The Philippines hosts the WHO Regional Office in the Western Pacific, in addition to being a founding member of the WHO in 1948.
The Department of Health (DoH) said the nomination comes at a time when the Philippines is pursuing numerous health initiatives on the global stage aimed at strengthening the health workforce to address gaps in health care delivery, championing the implementation of the Universal Health Care through Primary Health Care, and leadership in global tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and patient safety initiatives.
“Filipinos are recognized as bridge-builders in the international community. Our nomination by the Western Pacific Member States as WHA78 President is a recognition of our collective contribution and leadership in international health,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said.
The WHA is the highest decision-making body of the WHO and is attended by delegations from all 194 WHO member states, 37 of them in the Western Pacific region.
The main functions of the WHA, which is held annually in Geneva, are to chart the policies of the organization, appoint the director-general, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed program budget.
The president of the WHA guides the assembly in its discussions and decisions on global health policies and initiatives.
Member states traditionally elect a president from each of the six WHO regions — Western Pacific, South East Asia, Africa, Americas, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, and rotates every year.
The last time a WHA president came from the Western Pacific region was Laos in 2019.
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