The 156th session of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Executive Board convened in Geneva from February 4 to 11, 2025, gathering representatives from Member States, senior WHO officials, and key stakeholders to address pressing global health matters, with discussions marked by a strong focus on health governance, financial sustainability, and the prioritization of key health challenges facing the global community.
The meeting opened with significant attention to leadership and governance matters within the WHO. A central element of the governance discussions circled the Member State-led governance reform, with particular emphasis on enhancing transparency and strengthening decision-making processes. The review of the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, and Response was highlighted as a critical step in improving WHO’s ability to respond to global health emergencies effectively. Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu was appointed as Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa, following the passing of Dr. Faustine Ndugulile, while Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge was reappointed as the Regional Director for Europe, reflecting the confidence of Member States in his leadership. Dr. Ihekweazu’s interim appointment will remain in place until the formal election of a new Regional Director at the WHA78.
A key theme was WHO’s financial health and sustainability. The EB debated the need for a flexible funding model that enables prompt responses to emerging health threats and geopolitical challenges, such as the decision of two Member States of the Americas, the United States of America and Argentina, to withdraw of the WHO. Dr. Cathrine Lofthus of Norway, Chair of the 41st Programme, Budget, and Administration Committee (PBAC), presented a decision paper that will align resolutions with the Programme Budget 2026–2027. The Board recommended that implementing requests to the Director-General—including those for WHA78—be contingent on finalizing this budget.
This approach ensures that new initiatives are supported by clear funding strategies, where WHO will be required to assess the budgetary and operational implications of all resolutions and integrate these into the Programme Budget 2026–2027. Member States expect active consultation during prioritization, and progress will be reported to WHA78 through the PBAC.
The Executive Board discussed and recommended several resolutions for adoption at WHA78, reflecting WHO’s commitment to addressing a wide range of global health issues. Among the most notable was the Global Action Plan on Climate Change and Health, which aims to bolster health system resilience to climate-related risks and mitigate the environmental determinants of health and acknowledges the growing impact of climate change on public health and calls for coordinated international efforts to protect vulnerable populations and strengthen emergency preparedness.
Another important draft resolution, led by Côte d’ Ivoire, focused on skin diseases, seeking to address all skin disease conditions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, calling on the improvement of access to treatment, preventive measures, and tackling stigma and discrimination of patients, as well as improving research to combat these conditions.
Vital discussion on the health implications of nuclear weapons and nuclear war, the proposal led by Samoa, emphasized the catastrophic humanitarian and health consequences of nuclear conflict and urged Member States to strengthen their emergency preparedness and response capacities, further reinforcing WHO’s role in raising awareness about the long-term health effects of nuclear exposure and advocating for global disarmament efforts.
Strengthening health financing globally was another major discussed resolution, led by Nigeria, the draft calls for sustainable and equitable health financing mechanisms to support universal health coverage and primary healthcare systems; due to the pressing need to close funding gaps and mobilize domestic and international resources to achieve health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Board emphasized that robust health financing is essential to building resilient health systems capable of withstanding future health emergencies.
The Executive Board concluded the session by reaffirming its commitment to strengthening WHO’s leadership, transparency, and financial stability; where Member States expressed a shared determination to work collaboratively at WHA78 to adopt resolutions that promote global health security, advance health equity, and bolster WHO’s capacity to serve the most vulnerable populations.
With a clear roadmap laid out by the EB, the upcoming78th World Health Assembly scheduled to take place in Geneva from May 19 to 27, promises to be a decisive moment in health diplomacy as Member States and many come together to tackle pressing health issues, the result of the negotiation of the Intergovernmental Negotiation Body to draft and negotiate a WHO Convention, Agreement, or other international instruments on pandemic, preparedness, and response, and the reinforcement of the role of WHO as the leading authority in international health.
