Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly – Daily Update: 19 May 2026

At today’s World Health Assembly, Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus presented its report on the work of the WHO member states and the Assembly started a general debate under the theme “Reshaping Global Health: Shared Responsibility”.

The secretariat presented certificates of appreciation for outstanding public health achievements:

• Algeria, Australia, Burundi, Egypt, Fiji, Libya, Senegal and Tunisia to eliminate trachoma;
• Chile for the elimination of leprosy;
• Kenya to eliminate human African trypanosomiasis;
• Suriname and Timor-Leste to eliminate malaria;
• Anguilla, Bahamas, Brazil, Cuba, Denmark, Maldives, Montserrat, Oman, Sri Lanka and Turks and Caicos to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, HBV and syphilis; and
• Portugal and the United Arab Emirates to eliminate trans-fats;

In recognition of their outstanding contribution to tobacco control, the following World No Tobacco Day certificates were awarded:

• Dr. Louise Mapleh-Kpoto, Minister of Health of Liberia;
• Dr. Monica Garcia Gomez, Minister of Health of Spain;
• María Lustemberg Haro, Minister of Public Health of Uruguay; and
• Legislation Department of Vietnam.

WHO member states continue negotiations on the pathogen access and benefit-sharing system from the WHO Pandemic Agreement

The World Health Assembly decided to continue the development and negotiation of the Annex on Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) within the framework of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement. The IGWG, as mandated under Article 12 of the Agreement, will continue to prioritize this work.

The goal of the PABS Annex is to provide a framework to ensure a better, fairer response to future pandemics. During the past year, WHO member states held extensive negotiations on the Annex, and the result of their work was presented to the World Health Assembly.

WHO Member States have agreed to submit the outcome of their negotiations on the Annex to the PABS for consideration by the Eightieth World Health Assembly in May 2027 or at a special session of the Assembly in 2026. The adoption of the Annex to the PABS is key to opening up the signing of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. WHO Member States will continue negotiations on the PABS Annex after the World Health Assembly at the seventh meeting of the IGWG to be held from 6 to 17 July 2026.

Emergency medical conditions in committee A

In Committee A, delegates discussed preparedness and response to public health emergencies, and noted report on the implementation of International Health Regulations (2005) i report Independent Monitoring and Advisory Board for the WHO Program for Health Emergencies.

Delegates also discussed the health impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with a focus on the protection of health care and health workers in conflict, and noted report on WHO’s work in emergency health situations.

The committee adopted a draft decision on the health emergency in Lebanon.

From COVID-19 to action: reflections on a decade of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme

On the sidelines of the World Health Assembly, global leaders gathered for a strategic roundtable to consider lessons from COVID-19 and other crises, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the Program on Health Emergencies (WHE).

Opening the session, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director of WHE, noted that the evolution of WHE has been shaped by lessons from successive emergencies, especially COVID‑19. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the pandemic as the “ultimate stress test,” revealing weaknesses in preparedness, equity and trust, while accelerating innovation and global cooperation. dr. Mike Ryan, former executive director of WHE, added historical perspective, noting that global health systems have often developed reactively following crises such as SARS, Ebola and COVID‑19, and must now proactively adapt to future threats.

Experts highlighted the key areas of transformation. Professor Johanna Hanefeld from the Robert Koch Institute highlighted a new era of epidemiological intelligence in which advanced analytics and artificial intelligence must be paired with strong national systems and public trust. dr. Daniela Garone, from Doctors Without Borders, emphasized the need for sustainable and flexible funding, warning that reliance on reactive funding limits effective preparedness. dr. John-Arne Røttingen, from the Wellcome Trust, highlighted the importance of a comprehensive approach to medical countermeasures, ensuring that scientific progress is translated into equitable access and real-world impact.

Country perspectives illustrated these lessons in action. Ethiopia’s Minister of Health, Dr. Mekdes Daba Feyssa, described how COVID‑19 prompted major investments in laboratories, oxygen systems and workforce capacity, strengthening responses to subsequent outbreaks. In the Central African Republic, Minister Dr. Pierre Somsé noted that integrated approaches such as the Universal Health and Preparedness Review (UHPR) align technical, political and community actions to improve preparedness.

The session emphasized the central message: COVID‑19 has revealed both the cost of unpreparedness and the power of collective action. Although progress has been made through the Pandemic Agreement and reforms of the International Health Regulations (IHR), the completion of the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex remains critical. The challenge is now clear – translate the lessons into sustainable investments and stronger, fairer systems for the future.