WPA Urges Immediate Action Following WHA Resolution on Global Health Financing Emergency
The WPA welcomes the adoption of a crucial resolution by the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly 2025 (WHA78) aimed at tackling the global health financing emergency, but warns that urgent action is needed to turn these commitments into real-world results for patients.
The resolution comes at a time when fragile health systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries, are facing a potential 40% reduction in external health aid in 2025, coupled with soaring out-of-pocket costs and disrupted services that place an unbearable burden on patients and families.
A Lifeline for Universal Health Coverage
“This resolution sends a powerful signal that health financing must be at the top of the global health agenda,” said Hussain Jafri, CEO WPA. “Without sustainable financing, universal health coverage is just a dream, patients will continue to suffer and die needlessly.”
The resolution calls on Member States to:
• Prioritize health in domestic budgets
• Strengthen public financial management to maximize the impact of investments on population health
• Advance people-centered primary health care as the backbone of resilient health systems
WHO’s Renewed Role: From Words to Action
WPA supports WHO’s commitment to operationalize the resolution’s priorities by:
• Strengthening data analytics and policy support
• Monitoring and accountability frameworks to track progress
• Supporting countries to build health financing systems that are equitable, inclusive, and sustainable
“Patients must be at the centre of these reforms,” emphasized Hussain Jafri. “Health systems that rely heavily on out-of-pocket spending push millions into poverty every year. We need financing models that ensure health is a right, not a luxury.”
Patients’ Call to Action
The WPA urges:
• Governments to urgently increase domestic health budgets and improve financial management
• WHO and international partners to support countries in transitioning to sustainable, patient-centered financing models
• Donors to avoid sudden aid cuts that jeopardize essential health services
• All stakeholders to engage patients and civil society in designing financing strategies that reflect real-world needs and challenges
A Path Forward
WPA reaffirms its commitment to advocating health financing strategies that work for patients, ensuring that every person, everywhere, has access to the care they need without facing financial ruin.
“This resolution is a critical step, but it must be followed by action,” concluded the WPA. “For patients and communities struggling to access care, the time to act is now.
