The Philippines, through the Department of Health (DOH), has committed to champion health equity in the local, regional, and global landscapes, being the President of the 78th session of the World Health Assembly (WHA).
As the leading country for this year’s WHA, the DOH said that the Philippines is working closely with all member states and stakeholders in the assembly to ensure equitable access to essential health services.
“President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s direction is to address long-term health objectives, promote a more equitable and resilient global health landscape, and enable dialogue on critical health issues globally, having Philippines in the forefront,” the DOH said.
The Philippines recently took the helm as President of the 78th WHA—the first for the country since the WHA’s inception in 1948.
Through the leadership of Health Secretary Dr. Ted Herbosa, the DOH said the Philippines is also expanding its role in global health diplomacy, strengthening bilateral ties, and engaging in health cooperation initiatives with various countries.
The WHA is the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), and is attended by delegations from all 194 WHO member states—-37 countries and areas of which are in the Western Pacific.
The Philippines currently hosts the WHO regional office in the Western Pacific, in addition to being a founding member of the WHO itself.
Herbosa had met with WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus ahead of the assembly, which would be held in Geneva, Switzerland from May 19 to 27, 2025. — Giselle Ombay/RF, GMA Integrated News
