78th World Health Assembly Concludes with Historic Outcomes for Global Health
The World Patients Alliance (WPA) welcomes the landmark decisions and commitments made at the 78th World Health Assembly 2025 (WHA78), which concluded in Geneva, Switzerland. As the voice of patients worldwide, WPA applauds the Assembly’s strong emphasis on health equity, pandemic preparedness, primary healthcare, and the meaningful engagement of civil society, all critical to safeguarding patient rights and strengthening people-centered health systems globally.
Over the past week, Ministers of Health and delegates from WHO Member States gathered under the theme “All for Health, Health for All,” reaffirming their commitment to universal health coverage (UHC), equitable access to essential health services, and the centrality of communities especially patients in shaping resilient health systems.
Historic Adoption of the Pandemic Agreement Framework
One of the most consequential outcomes of WHA78 was the progress made toward a global pandemic agreement. Member States adopted the historic WHO Pandemic Agreement and patients around the world welcome the historic Agreement. This long-awaited decision is a critical step forward in protecting patients from future pandemics and ensuring that the lessons learned from COVID-19 are not forgotten. The Agreement promises to enhance global cooperation, equitable access to essential medical products, and robust health system readiness, all vital to keeping patients safe during health crises. Patients look forward to seeing this commitment translate into real improvements in pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
Strong Commitments to Primary Healthcare and Health Workforce
The Assembly underscored the foundational role of primary healthcare in achieving UHC and announced a new Global Health and Care Worker Compact. For patients, this is a critical step: a well-supported, trained, and protected health workforce is vital for delivering safe, effective, and compassionate care. WPA echoes the Assembly’s call for governments to invest in health workers and to ensure that health systems are inclusive and responsive to the needs of all, especially the most vulnerable.
Patient Participation and Civil Society Engagement Recognized
WPA was encouraged by the recognition of civil society’s role in advancing health equity and transparency. Several interventions during WHA78 highlighted the importance of involving patients in decision-making processes, co-designing health policies, and building trust between communities and health authorities. WPA continues to advocate for formal mechanisms to embed patient voices at all levels of health governance, from policy formulation to implementation and evaluation.
Looking Ahead: Patients as Partners in the Future of Health
As the global community reflects on the outcomes of WHA78, the World Patients Alliance reiterates its commitment to ensuring that patients are not only recipients of care but active partners in the design and delivery of healthcare. We call on WHO Member States to build on the momentum of this year’s Assembly by translating commitments into action, ensuring that every patient, everywhere, has access to safe, equitable, and people-centered health services.
We extend our appreciation to the World Health Organization and Member States for facilitating inclusive dialogue and for recognizing that achieving “Health for All” is only possible with patients at the center.
Strengthening Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
The World Health Assembly also discussed WHO’s work in health emergencies. Over the last year, WHO responded to 51 graded emergencies across 89 countries and territories, including global outbreaks of cholera and mpox, as well as multiple humanitarian crises. Working with over 900 partners across 28 health clusters, WHO helped provide health assistance to 72 million people in humanitarian settings. Nearly 60% of new emergencies were climate-related, highlighting the growing health impacts of climate change.
Together, we stand ready to work with WHO and Member States to turn these commitments into lasting change, ensuring that patients everywhere benefit from safer, more equitable, and people-centered health systems.
Major Decisions and Resolutions
1) Adopted the WHO Pandemic Agreement
3) Adopted a new resolution highlighting the global health financing emergency
4) Endorsed first-ever resolutions on lung and kidney health
5) Adopted a new target to halve the health impacts of air pollution by 2040
6) Adopted the Global Action Plan on Climate Change and Health
7) Adopted the resolution on Social Connection as a Global Public Health Priority
8) Adopted the resolution to address rare diseases
9) Adopted the resolution on commitment to strengthen and support the global health and care workforce
10) Deferred the final report on Substandard and Falsified Medicines
11) Adopted the global strategy on Traditional Medicine
12) Expressed deep concern over the health crisis in the occupied Palestinian Territory
13) Adopted the resolution on Skin Diseases as a global public health priority
14) Extended the Global Action Plan on Dementia to 2031
15) Adopted additional resolutions on digital health, medical imaging, nursing and midwifery, and sensory impairment, among others
16) Established two new official WHO health campaigns: World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day and World Prematurity Day
