The Seventy-eighth session of the World Health Assembly ( WHA78 ) will convene from 19 to 27 May 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme "One World for Health".
The Health Assembly will bring together high-level country representatives and other stakeholders to address health challenges. This year's gathering comes at a pivotal moment for global health, as Member States confront emerging threats and major shifts in the landscape for global health and international development.
This year's theme underscores WHO's enduring commitment to solidarity and equity, highlighting that even in unprecedented times, everyone, everywhere should have an equal chance to live a healthy life.
A defining moment: the Pandemic Agreement
A highly anticipated moment of the WHA78 will be the consideration of the Pandemic Agreement, a landmark proposal developed over three years of intense negotiations by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, composed of all WHO Member States. The adoption of the agreement is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to safeguard the world from a repeat of the suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposal will be the second ever presented for approval under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution, which gives Member States the authority to reach agreements on global health.
"This year's World Health Assembly will be truly historic with countries, after 3 years of negotiations, considering for adoption the first global compact to better protect people from pandemics," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. "The Pandemic Agreement can make the world safer by boosting collaboration among countries fairly in the preparedness, prevention and response to pandemics."
Key priorities
WHO's sustainable financing is a key priority of the Health Assembly. Member States will consider a scheduled 20% increase in assessed contributions (membership fees), towards the next Programme Budget 2026–2027 (PB26-27). The PB26–27, also for approval by the Health Assembly, is the first full biennium under WHO's Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW14), WHO's strategy for global health for 2025–2028. The Programme Budget for 2026–2027 was under consultation by Member States, to prioritize activities and adjust the budget to the current financial realities, by reducing it by 22%, to US$ 4.267 billion, from the original proposed budget of US$ 5.3 billion.
Reprioritization of WHO's work, including cost-saving measures and budget adjustments, will also apply to the current year, 2025. The aim is to focus on WHO's core work and increase efficiency. The reprioritization is a critical step to aligning WHO's resources with the most urgent global health needs and getting health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track.
Sustainable financing was one of several transformation priorities put in place by the WHO Director-General to ensure a more efficient and impactful WHO when he first took office. On Tuesday, 20 May, there will be a high-level pledging moment for the Investment Round , where Member States and philanthropies are expected to announce funding for WHO.
Member States will assess progress made over the past year, including a review of the 2024 Results Report – the final report measuring progress toward WHO's Triple Billion targets under its Thirteenth General Programme of Work.
Other agenda highlights
The Health Assembly will consider approximately 75 items and sub-items and is expected to approve more than 40 resolutions/decisions, many of which are put forward by the Executive Board at its 156th session ( EB156 ), where they have been previously discussed.
The packed agenda covers a diverse range of topics in WHO's Programme of Work, such as the health and care workforce, antimicrobial resistance, health emergencies, preparedness, polio, climate change and social connection as determinants of health, among other issues.
Awards and recognition
On the morning of Friday, 23 May, the WHA President will present public health prizes and awards, recognizing exceptional contributions by individuals and organizations to the advancement of public health.
It is also expected that the Director-General will announce two Director-General's Awards for Global Health on the morning of Tuesday, 20 May.
Key events and side activities
Forty-five official side events will take place at the Palais des Nations from Monday 19 May to Saturday 24 May (see the complete list
