World Health Assembly opens with focus on equity, resilience, and global health cooperation; Region of the Americas plays active role

Geneva, Switzerland, 18 May 2026 (PAHO) - The Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly (WHA79) opened today at the Palais des Nations, bringing together delegations from more than 190 countries to define global health priorities and advance discussions on some of the world's most pressing health challenges.

This year's Assembly takes place amid growing attention to pandemic preparedness, sustainable financing for global health, and efforts to reshape the global health architecture. Health leaders from across the Americas are participating actively throughout the Assembly week.

Dominican Republic Minister of Health Dr. Víctor Atallah assumed the presidency of the Assembly. In accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) procedures, the presidency rotates among the Organization's six regions every six years.

As President of the Assembly, Dr. Atallah will guide negotiations and facilitate consensus among Member States on major global health priorities, including strengthening health systems, advancing universal health coverage, tackling the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions, accelerating disease elimination efforts, and reinforcing preparedness for future health emergencies.

"This Assembly takes place at a pivotal moment for global health," said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and WHO Regional Director for the Americas. "As the specialized international health agency for the Americas, PAHO is actively engaged at WHA79 to ensure that the realities and priorities of our Region are reflected in global decisions."

Among the main topics expected to dominate discussions this week are advances related to the WHO Pandemic Agreement, particularly negotiations on the Annex on Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS), efforts to strengthen the global health architecture, sustainable financing for WHO and global health cooperation, and the strengthening of preparedness and response to emergencies.

The opening of WHA79 also comes amid ongoing global concern over emerging and re-emerging outbreaks, reinforcing calls for stronger international cooperation, surveillance, and response capacities.

Member States will also review a proposed updated Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) for 2026-2036, as well as renewed efforts to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination, and the Draft Strategy on the Economics of Health for All (2026-2030), which emphasizes the role of economic, fiscal, trade, labor, and social protection policies in promoting population health, reducing inequities, and supporting sustainable development.

Additional agenda items under discussion include strengthening primary health care, advancing mental health and noncommunicable disease responses, expanding immunization coverage, accelerating progress on tuberculosis and neglected tropical diseases, improving rehabilitation services, addressing rare diseases, reinforcing health workforce protections, and advancing governance frameworks for digital health and artificial intelligence.

High-level engagement by PAHO

Dr. Barbosa is participating in a series of high-level bilateral meetings with ministers of health from across the Americas and leaders of major global health institutions and partners.

His agenda also includes participation in side events and strategic dialogues on primary health care cooperation between Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean, climate and health action through the Belém Health Action Plan, noncommunicable diseases and mental health, antimicrobial resistance, diagnostics and laboratory systems, pandemic preparedness, and the launch of the PILLARs initiative focused on AI-ready public health infrastructure.

Throughout the week, PAHO is also engaging with partners including UNITAID, Africa CDC, GARDP, FIND, the European Union's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), academic institutions, and philanthropic organizations to strengthen collaboration on equitable access to health technologies, resilient supply chains, surveillance systems, regional manufacturing, and digital transformation in health.

The World Health Assembly, WHO's supreme decision-making body, meets annually to determine the Organization's policies, approve its budget, and provide direction on pressing health issues. Outcomes from WHA79 are expected to shape international health cooperation and global health governance in the years ahead.

Follow PAHO's coverage

PAHO will provide regular updates from WHA79 on X through @pahowho using the hashtag #WHA79. Additional coverage and highlights will also be shared on Instagram (@opspaho), and LinkedIn (@PanAmericanHealthOrganization).

Follow the participation and activities of PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa during WHA79 on X and Instagram (@DirOPSPAHO), as well as on LinkedIn (Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Jr).