WHO Director-General's remarks at the UNGA side event: EU Powering Global Health Resilience – 24 September 2026

Commissioner Síkela,

Excellencies, colleagues and friends,

Thank you, Commissioner, for your leadership, and for the European Union's longstanding partnership with WHO.

The European Union has consistently defended multilateralism, international solidarity and global health. At a time when all three are under pressure, that leadership is more valuable than ever.

WHO welcomes the Global Health Resilience Initiative. We were pleased to contribute to its development, and we look forward to supporting its implementation.

The Initiative comes at a critical time.

Climate-related emergencies, conflict, antimicrobial resistance, noncommunicable diseases and humanitarian crises are placing health systems under growing strain.

Meanwhile, development financing for health is contracting. Countries are being asked to meet greater needs with fewer resources.

Progress towards the health-related Sustainable Development Goals is off track.

Some 4.6 billion people still lack access to essential health services, and more than two billion face financial hardship from health spending.

These figures tell us that resilience cannot mean preparing only for the next emergency.

A resilient health system delivers essential services every day. It continues functioning during outbreaks, conflict and climate shocks. And after a crisis, it recovers stronger.

The old distinction between routine services and emergency response no longer serves us.

The same system must vaccinate children, manage chronic diseases, respond to outbreaks and serve displaced populations, often simultaneously.

That requires strong primary health care; trained and protected health workers; reliable access to medicines; resilient supply chains; sustainable financing; and strong data, digital systems and governance.

Primary health care can meet up to 90 percent of people's health needs across the life course. It is the foundation of both universal health coverage and health security.

The Initiative rightly puts country ownership at its centre.

The most sustainable progress comes when countries lead, and partners align behind national priorities, institutions and plans.

External investment should strengthen national systems, not create parallel structures that disappear when funding ends.

This is what health sovereignty means. Not isolation, but stronger national capacity, supported by effective international cooperation.

The WHO-EU Universal Health Coverage Partnership shows what that cooperation can achieve. Together, we are supporting stronger health systems in 115 countries.

We also welcome the investments made through Global Gateway in regional manufacturing, supply chains and digital health.

Innovative finance, including loans, guarantees and blended instruments, can unlock valuable investment.

But these instruments cannot replace grants where market-based financing is unsuitable.

Predictable grant funding remains indispensable, especially in poorer, fragile and crisis-affected countries, and for public goods that do not generate a financial return.

Finally, resilience requires a coherent global health architecture.

Reform should reduce fragmentation, not add another layer.

It should clarify roles, strengthen coordination, align investment and improve accountability for results in countries.

WHO stands ready to work with the European Union, its Member States and all partners to turn this Initiative into better health for people.

The test will not be the commitments we announce, but whether a health worker has the supplies, support and systems to provide care everywhere.

Thank you.