WHO Director-General's inaugural address at the 78th Session of the Regional Committee for South-East Asia – 13 October 2025

Chair, Honourable Minister Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk,

Honourable Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa,

Officer-in-Charge Dr Catharina Boehme,

Honourable Ministers and heads of delegation,

Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,

Good morning, it's an honour to be here with you today.

I thank the Government of Sri Lanka for its hospitality in hosting this year's Regional Committee.

The last time I was here in Colombo was for World Health Day seven years ago, in 2018.

That year was WHO's 70^th birthday, but it was also Sri Lanka's 70^th anniversary of independence. So, I was here to celebrate both WHO and Sri Lanka.

I congratulate Sri Lanka for its many achievements in public health since independence. By the way since 2018 I can see lots of changes in Colombo. So, congratulations.

Health care in this country has been free at the point of delivery since 1952, very shortly after independence.

As a result, although Sri Lanka is classified as a lower-middle income country, it has the health profile of many high-income countries.

Almost every woman who gives birth does so with a skilled birth attendant.

Almost every child receives routine immunizations.

You've defeated malaria, eliminated lymphatic filariasis and maternal and neonatal tetanus.

And Sri Lanka was the first country in Asia to ratify the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and also the first to fully implement the framework.

I congratulate the Government and the Honourable Minister for its partnership, and for the significant progress we have made together.

Just in the past year, WHO is proud to have worked with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education to conduct the Global School Health Survey of almost 3000 children in 40 schools.

We also developed an integrated community model for mental health care to facilitate the transition of patients from acute psychiatric institutions to community-based rehabilitation.

We have also worked together on programmes for cancer, substance use, digitalizing civil registration and vital statistics, and more.

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Honourable Ministers, heads of delegation, dear colleagues and friends,

I recognize that this is an uncertain time for the region and the Regional Office, with the Regional Director on leave.

I thank Dr Catharina Boehme for her willingness to step in to the role as Officer-in-Charge.

She has my full support, and I ask you all to give her yours.

I also thank the staff of our Regional Office in New Delhi, and our country offices, for their continued commitment to serving the people of the region.

As you all know, these are difficult times for The World Health Organization and our staff, as we go through a process of downsizing and restructuring.

Over the past few weeks and months, we have been through a painful process of saying goodbye to a large number of colleagues.

These are people who have served the world in many ways, including under extreme pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic, and do not deserve to be treated this way.

Nevertheless, I see this crisis as an opportunity, and I am confident that WHO will emerge sharper, more focused on its core mandate and more independent.

At this year's World Health Assembly, Member States sent a very powerful message that a strong and empowered WHO is what they want.

First, the approval of the next increase in assessed contributions was a major step towards WHO's financial sustainability, and to protecting it from future shocks like this one.

And second, the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement was truly historic, demonstrating that in these divided times, countries can still come together and find shared solutions to shared problems. It shows that multilateralism is alive and well.

And that is what brings you together this week.

Your agenda covers many issues of shared importance:

Universal health coverage; health emergencies; antimicrobial resistance; smokeless tobacco and more.

I also look forward to joining tomorrow's Ministerial roundtable on healthy ageing and primary health care.

I'm also pleased that you will be looking at ways to enhance the transparency and integrity of the election of Regional Directors, based on the recommendations of the Executive Board.

In particular, we commend to you the idea of an evaluation group to assess the suitability and qualifications of candidates.

Thank you all once again for your commitment to promoting, providing and protecting the health of the people of your countries, and the region as a whole.

I thank you.