World Health Assembly (WHA)

WHO

The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO. It is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed program budget. The Health Assembly is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly WAs held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 21–30 May 2023.


76th World Health Assembly Photo Galleries


 PAHO's Coverage of the WHA

Geneva, May 22, 2017 (PAHO/WHO) - In anticipation of what she described as "a very important week in an Assembly unlike any previous one," the Director of the Pan American Health Organization, Dr. Carissa F. Etienne reviewed the items on the agenda of the 70th World Health Assembly from the perspective of the interests of the Region of the…
Geneva, May 22, 2016 (PAHO / WHO) - Suriname was elected as vice-president for the Americas region of the 70th World Health Assembly, which takes place from May 22 to 31 in Geneva, Switzerland. Suriname's Health Minister Patrick Pengel will be one of the five vice-presidents of the plenary, a position that corresponds to each of the five regions…
28 may 2016 | Geneva- The Sixty-ninth World Health Assembly closed today after approving new resolutions on WHO's Framework for Engagement with Non-State Actors; the Sustainable Development Goals; the International Health Regulations; tobacco control; road traffic deaths and injuries; nutrition; HIV, hepatitis and STIs; mycetoma; research and…
Geneva, 26 May 2016 (PAHO/WHO) - Delegates at the World Health Assembly agreed, on 26 May, to implement two new health strategies that are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. One relates to women's, children's, and adolescents' health; the other, to healthy aging. Global Strategy for Women's, Children's, and Adolescents' Health…
Geneva, 27 May 2016 (PAHO-WHO) - The 69th World Health Assembly elected Colombia, Jamaica, and Mexico to replace Argentina, Brazil, and Suriname in the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the next three years. The main functions of the Board are to implement the decisions and policies of the Health Assembly, advise it, and…
Geneva, 25 May 2016 (PAHO/WHO) - The World Health Organization (WHO) Member States approved a plan for emergency response reform that establishes a new Health Emergencies Program. This program adds operational capabilities for outbreaks and humanitarian emergencies that are complemented by the traditional technical and normative roles of the…
Geneva, 25 May 2016 (PAHO/WHO) - At a plenary session of the 69th World Health Assembly, ministers and delegates from the countries of the Americas addressed the health-related aspects of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In their presentations, the speakers covered subjects ranging from the management of outbreaks of the Zika virus and…
Geneva, 25 May 2016 (OPS-WHO) - Experts from United Nations agencies and representatives from Uruguay, Canada, and other countries met at a technical briefing on the implementation of the Global Strategy for Women's, Children's, and Adolescent Health (2016-2030), held within the framework of the 69th World Health Assembly. British physician David…
Geneva, 24 May 2016 (PAHO/WHO) - On its second day of sessions, the 69th World Health Assembly focused on climate change and health, as well as on the road to achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the need for multisectoral action to achieve them. The invited speaker at the World Health Assembly, Christiana…