Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly – Daily Update: 21 May 2026

Countries support the development of a strategy to end tuberculosis after 2030

Today, the Assembly adopted a decision requesting the Director-General to develop a strategy for tuberculosis (TB) beyond 2030, in consultation with Member States and relevant stakeholders, to be submitted to the Eighty-first World Health Assembly in 2028.

The new strategy will help guide the future global response to tuberculosis, taking into account new scientific developments and current epidemiological trends. The strategy will strengthen strong alignment with primary health care, advancing universal health coverage and global health security plans, in preparation for the 2028 United Nations high-level meeting on tuberculosis.

The assembly also discussed report on the implementation of the current Strategy for Stopping Tuberculosis, highlighting both progress and challenges. Between 2000 and 2024, expanded treatment of people with TB saved an estimated 83 million lives, while 2024 marked the first post-pandemic decline in TB incidence and the highest ever recorded levels of access to essential TB services.

Despite these gains, tuberculosis remains the leading infectious killer, and global targets under the TB Strategy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development continue to be missed. This is due to chronic underfunding, pandemic-related disruptions, inequality, conflict, displacement and climate-induced vulnerability.

The Assembly recognizes steatotic liver disease as a major and growing NCD challenge

Today, the delegates approved a resolution recognizing steatotic liver disease (SLD) as an important and growing contributor to the global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). SLD, formerly called fatty liver disease, affects approximately 1.7 billion people worldwide and is one of the fastest growing causes of chronic liver disease worldwide.

The condition is closely related to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other metabolic conditions, while alcohol-related liver disease remains an important factor in the overall burden. Without effective prevention and care, SLD can progress to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer, putting increasing pressure on healthcare systems worldwide.

The resolution calls on member states to integrate SLD into national NCD strategies, strengthen approaches to primary health care, improve surveillance and awareness, and promote multisectoral action that addresses common NCD risk factors, including unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and harmful alcohol use. It also calls for strengthening access to prevention, screening, diagnosis and management services, particularly for populations at higher risk, including children and adolescents.

The resolution further requires WHO to integrate SLD into ongoing NCD prevention and control efforts, provide technical support to countries upon request, strengthen collaboration with relevant partners and report biennially on progress as part of the broader global NCD agenda.

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Political declaration of the fourth high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being

Countries pledge support for people living with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders

The member states at the World Health Assembly today approved a resolution taking action again against hemophilia and other bleeding disorders, addressing major gaps in diagnosis, treatment and care globally. It is estimated that almost 70% of people living with hemophilia remain undiagnosed.

Hemophilia and other bleeding disorders impair the body’s ability to clot blood properly, causing prolonged bleeding after injury or surgery and, in severe cases, spontaneous bleeding episodes. Without timely diagnosis and adequate prophylaxis, these conditions can lead to serious health complications, disability and reduced quality of life.

This resolution represents a concrete step toward closing a long-standing community equity gap that has often been overlooked in global health policy. Enables comprehensive recognition of hemophilia, von Willebrand disease and other rare clotting factor deficiencies.

With the resolution, member states committed to strengthening access to treatment and care for people with bleeding disorders worldwide. Countries also committed to integrating the treatment of bleeding disorders into their national policies on non-communicable diseases, primary health care and maternal health policies, as well as strengthening diagnostic capacity and ensuring timely referral to specialized treatment centers.

The resolution further encourages the inclusion of life-saving therapies, including factor concentrates and new factor-free therapies, in national lists of essential medicines. Member States are also encouraged to strengthen national data collection and promote awareness to reduce stigma and improve understanding of bleeding disorders.

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Political declaration of the fourth high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being

Global leaders unite to tackle health misinformation and misinformation to rebuild trust in science

Today, the Assembly held a Strategic Round Table on Misinformation and Misinformation about Health, bringing together a diverse and high-level group of leaders from governments, international organizations, the scientific community, civil society, youth, the private sector and the media.

The event underscored the urgency and global importance of the problem, revealing a strong consensus that misinformation and misinformation “is not just a communication challenge,” but a growing threat to public health that undermines the delivery of effective health interventions. In different perspectives, participants emphasized the need for multi-sector cooperation and sustainable investment in resilient information ecosystems. They also highlighted WHO’s key role in bringing together partners and providing normative guidance.

Participants shared practical experiences and state-level strategies for strengthening information integrity, including whole-of-government approaches, community engagement, and transparent communication to build trust. Speakers emphasized the importance of empowering health professionals and community voices who are trusted as first responders to misinformation and misinformation, as well as leveraging scientific networks to ensure timely and credible dissemination of evidence.

Looking ahead, key priorities include investing in the quality of health information, moving from reactive misinformation correction to proactive engagement, and strengthening collaboration with key stakeholders such as technology platforms and end-user communities.

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