Press Release | 24 October 2024

The Philippines received the distinct honor of being the President-nominee of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) to be held in Geneva, Switzerland in May 2025. This came to be at the 75th Regional Committee Meeting (RCM) of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Western Pacific as announced by the WPRO Regional Director Saia Ma’u Piukala, where Member States in attendance gained consensus to nominate the Philippines. This nomination is historic as it is the first time that the Philippines will be the President of the prestigious Health Assembly since the WHO was founded in 1948.

The WHA is the highest decision-making body of the WHO. It is attended by delegations from all 194 WHO Member States, 37 countries and areas of which are in the Western Pacific. The Philippines hosts the WHO Regional Office in the Western Pacific (WPRO), in addition to being a founding member of the WHO itself.

The main functions of the WHA are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget. It is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland.

The officers of the WHA are formally elected by acclamation at the start of each session in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the WHA. The President oversees the conduct of the WHA and guides the Assembly in its critical discussions and decisions on global health policies and initiatives. The President may appoint the five vice presidents to act in its place during meetings or parts thereof. The vice presidents can also be selected by lot at the session where the election takes place.

Member States traditionally elect a President from each of the six WHO regions (Western Pacific, South East Asia, Africa, Americas, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean), rotating every year. For the 78th session of the WHA to be held in May 2025, the President will come from the Western Pacific. The last time a WHA President came from the Western Pacific was in 2019, from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

During the ongoing RCM in Manila this year, Western Pacific Member States chose the Philippines by consensus, in recognition of the country’s leadership in the region and its important voice in the international health arena.

This nomination comes at a pivotal time for the Philippines, as the country is pursuing numerous health initiatives on the global stage aimed at strengthening the health workforce to address gaps in healthcare delivery, championing the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) through Primary Health Care (PHC), and leadership in global tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and patient safety initiatives. These pursuits align with the country’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to essential health services and improving health outcomes for all. Through its leadership, the Philippines aims to further emphasize the importance of resilient health systems and international cooperation in the face of global health challenges.

“Filipinos are recognized as bridge-builders in the international community. Our nomination by the Western Pacific Member States as WHA78 President is a recognition of our collective contribution and leadership in international health,” said Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa. “Thank you to our neighbors in the Western Pacific for the trust and confidence,” added the Philippines’ health chief.

The Presidency of the WHA runs for the duration of the Assembly itself, until a new President is elected the following year from the WHO Region of the Americas.