Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly – Daily Update: 22 May 2026

Member States establish a common process to support reform of the global health architecture

The World Health Assembly today decided to establish a joint process led by member states, hosted by WHO and with global health partners, to support reforms of the global health architecture.

The Assembly agreed that the process should develop options and recommendations for reforms to the global health architecture to meet the specific and shared needs of countries and communities, to maximize access, impact and equity. The process should rely on existing reform initiatives and relevant elements of the UN Initiative80.

Member States expressed strong support for WHO’s central convening and normative role, stressing that while the process will be led by Member States, it should be carried out together with global health initiatives and UN partners, with significant engagement of key stakeholders, including civil society and youth.

The proposal adopted by the Assembly recognizes the health improvements resulting from the existing global health architecture in recent decades, including disease control, global norms and standards, and more effective collective action to address cross-border health threats. But member states have noted that the global health architecture has not kept pace with the new and evolving global environment. This included expanding national health sovereignty and regional capacity; the changing burden of disease and health risks; rapid development of science, artificial intelligence and digital technologies; and contractions in healthcare financing.

In addition, the global health environment has become more complex due to the proliferation of health actors, resulting in power imbalances, fragmentation and duplication, affecting country ownership and leadership.

The Health Assembly asked the WHO Director-General to submit a final report with options and recommendations for transforming the global health architecture at the World Health Assembly next year.

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Member States consider the statements of the Secretary-General of the United Nations as the depository of the WHO Constitution

The World Health Assembly, meeting in Committee B on the sub-item entitled “Communications of the Secretary-General of the United Nations as Depositary of the Constitution of the World Health Organization”, considered several proposals regarding the notification of Argentina’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization and agreed on a compromise text by consensus.

The Assembly, which under the WHO Constitution is authorized to consider such matters, took note of Argentina’s communication and decided that, while WHO would always welcome Argentina’s full cooperation in the work of the Organization, no further action was desirable at this stage.

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Countries agree on the first resolution of the Assembly on stroke

Today, delegates approved the first World Health Assembly resolution on stroke, entitled “Reducing the Burden of Stroke: Strengthening Prevention, Acute Care, Rehabilitation and Health System Preparedness”. The resolution, proposed by Egypt and co-sponsored by Chile, Georgia, Palestine, Paraguay and Tunisia, reflects broad representation across WHO regions.

Its adoption comes at a critical time. Over the past 20 years, the lifetime risk of stroke has increased by 50%, with 1 in 4 adults expected to experience a stroke in their lifetime. In 2021, stroke was the third leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with an estimated 93.8 million cases, including 11.9 million new cases worldwide.

The resolution calls for stronger national and global action to reduce the burden of stroke through prevention, acute care, rehabilitation and improved health system readiness. It also reinforces reporting accountability through the WHO Global NCD Action Plan 2023–2030 and the Intersectoral Global Action Plan for Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders 2022–2031.

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Member States are advancing smart global monitoring of drug and vaccine safety

As a key milestone for improving access to safe and effective medicines and vaccines, the Assembly today approved a resolution to strengthen pharmacovigilance systems worldwide. The resolution recognizes the prioritization of risk-based drug and vaccine safety monitoring as a key pillar of patient safety, resilient health systems and efforts to achieve universal health coverage.

The resolution is a response to lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other health emergencies, which have highlighted the need for rapid detection and management of safety signals associated with drugs, vaccines and medical devices. It also highlights growing global challenges, including fragmented surveillance systems, uneven regulatory capacity, and the spread of misinformation and misinformation that can undermine trust in science and public health interventions.

Member States are committed to modernizing national pharmacovigilance systems, integrating patient reporting mechanisms, improving workforce capacity and strengthening cooperation at national, regional and global levels. The resolution also highlights the growing potential of digital technologies, real-world data and artificial intelligence to improve security oversight and regulatory decision-making, while emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations, transparency, data governance and public trust.

WHO will continue to develop global guidelines and technical tools for smart pharmacovigilance, support countries in strengthening regulatory and workforce capacity, and promote greater international cooperation and information sharing. Progress in implementing the resolution will be reported to future World Health Assemblies between 2028 and 2032.

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A new global strategy has been agreed to advance life-saving emergency, critical and operational care

The Assembly approved a ground-breaking new Global Strategy for Integrated Emergency, Critical and Operational (ECO) Care 2026-2035, which provides a roadmap for countries to strengthen health systems and deliver more timely, accessible and high-quality ECO services at all levels of care to large numbers.

The conditions addressed by ECO span all major health areas, comprise the leading global causes of death and disability, and account for an estimated 38 million deaths and 1.3 billion disability-adjusted life-years annually. Effective, integrated ECO services are critical to mitigating the impact of increasing public health risks, including epidemics, conflicts, disasters and climate-related events.

However, many countries face ongoing challenges, including shortages of health workers, inadequate support systems, limited skills and equipment; and gaps in service design and delivery that lead to delayed disease recognition and interruptions in the continuum of care.

WHO will set direction and priorities for global ECO advocacy, partnerships and networks, articulate evidence-based policy options and provide Member States with technical and strategic support. WHO, in agreement with member states, will develop an action plan with goals for the implementation of the strategy by the end of 2026.

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The Assembly supports better access to diagnostic imaging through teleradiology

Today, member states endorsed a resolution to increase efforts to strengthen equal access to basic diagnostic imaging via teleradiology. Imaging is an essential component of health care for the timely detection, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of infectious and non-infectious diseases, trauma and other medical conditions, as well as for the health care of the mother and child. However, many communities – particularly those in remote or underserved areas – still face significant gaps in access to radiology services due to a lack of trained imaging professionals and limited infrastructure.

The resolution recognizes teleradiology – the secure transmission and remote interpretation of medical images – as a practical and cost-effective approach to expanding access to professional diagnostic services, strengthening health systems and advancing universal health coverage and health equity. It further draws attention to the increasing role of digital health technologies and artificial intelligence in radiology, while emphasizing the need for strong governance, patient safety, ethical standards, data protection and clinical oversight.

With the resolution, member states agreed to integrate teleradiology into national health and digital health strategies, strengthen regulatory, procurement and workforce capacities, invest in secure digital infrastructure, and promote regional and international cooperation.

WHO is also requested to provide technical assistance, develop normative guidelines and facilitate global collaboration and knowledge sharing to support the safe, ethical and effective implementation of teleradiology services, particularly in developing countries and underserved settings.

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Countries adopt landmark resolution on precision medicine, putting equity at center stage

The Assembly approved a landmark resolution on precision medicine, setting the global path towards more targeted, personalized and equitable healthcare.

Precision medicine uses clinical, molecular and genomic data to guide prevention, diagnosis and treatment – ​​ensuring the right care reaches the right person at the right time, improving outcomes and efficiency.

Member States emphasized that precision medicine offers significant potential to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage. Evidence shows clear benefits, from improved cancer survival through targeted therapies, to faster diagnosis of rare diseases and safer and more effective prescribing, enabling more targeted and effective care.

However, countries highlighted major shortcomings. Many low- and middle-income settings face limited laboratory capacity, a lack of qualified professionals and an underrepresentation of genomic data, raising concerns about increasing inequalities if access is not addressed.

The resolution asks the WHO to develop a global strategy for precision medicine, if deemed necessary after mapping existing guidelines. WHO is also asked to provide guidance and capacity building, develop a framework for self-assessment of country readiness to implement precision medicine, and a platform for international cooperation to support country implementation.

Discussions also highlighted rapid scientific progress, with the risk of unequal access. The final text reinforces the ethical use of data, sustainability and alignment with universal health coverage goals.

Looking ahead, WHO will support Member States to turn commitments into action and report on progress to future World Health Assemblies.

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Resolutions on health in the occupied Palestinian territory and the countries of the Middle East

On 21 May, delegates agreed to continue reporting on health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), including East Jerusalem, at the next World Health Assembly, through Executive Board draft resolution EB158.R6.

The decision followed a report by the Director-General highlighting the worsening humanitarian crisis in the OPT, with health services under severe pressure. The report points to repeated attacks on health care, shortages of medicine, supplies and fuel, and limited access to services, despite a ceasefire announced in October 2025.

In Gaza, health sector losses are estimated at $6.78 billion, including $1.39 billion in infrastructure damage. As of October 2023, there have been a total of 1,947 attacks on healthcare across the territory, including 986 in the West Bank.

Despite these challenges and limited funding, WHO continues to work with partners to maintain life-saving services and support early recovery efforts.

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Following discussions on the ongoing escalation in the Middle East, delegates approved a resolution on the impact on public health in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Jordan.

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Editor’s note from May 23

The Radiation and Health Resolution, listed in this daily update when it was published on May 22nd, was included too early and has therefore been removed.