WONCA at the 78th World Health Assembly

June 2025 WONCA and WHO News

June, 2025

Strengthening the Global Voice of Family Medicine

By Dr. María Pilar Astier Pena, Dr. Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, Dr. Harris Lygidakis.

From May 19 to 23, 2025, WONCA World actively participated in the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in Geneva, Switzerland, marking a renewed commitment to global health diplomacy and primary care advocacy at the highest policy level. Our delegation, composed of Viviana Martinez-Bianchi M.D. (President-Elect), Dr. Harris Lygidakis (CEO), Prof María Pilar Astier Pena (WHO Liaison Officer), and Prof José M. (Chema) Valderas (WP on Quality and Safety) represented the global family medicine community in a week filled with high-level discussions, strategic engagements, and cross-sectoral collaborations.

Representing Family Medicine in Global Health Dialogue

Jim Campbell (Director of the WHO Health Workforce Department)

The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO) and brings together delegates from all 194 WHO Member States, along with non-state actors (NSAs) such as WONCA. Our presence at WHA78 was essential to ensure that the voice of family physicians and the value of strong primary healthcare systems remain central to global health planning and implementation.

Alarcos Cieza and team (Department of Noncommunicable Diseases)

Throughout the week, our delegation engaged with key WHO departments and influential stakeholders. These meetings included interactions with John Fogarty (WHO Focal Point for WONCA), Jim Campbell (Director of the WHO Health Workforce Department), Alarcos Cieza and team (Department of Noncommunicable Diseases), Yuka Sumi (WHO Department of Ageing and Health), and Blerta Maliqi and Irina Papieva (WHO Quality of Care and Patient Safety).

Prof. Bettina Borisch, World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA)

In addition to WHO leadership, we coordinated with fellow NSAs, including representatives from the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA), the International Federation of Hospitals, and the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA), reinforcing our shared commitment to person-centered, equitable, and sustainable health systems.

Amplifying Our Voice Through Side Events

Anna Luisa Neves at digital health event

WHA78 hosted a wide range of official and informal side events, many of which focused on primary healthcare, universal health coverage, digital transformation, and noncommunicable diseases. The WONCA delegation participated in several high-level events, contributing to discussions and reinforcing the indispensable role of family doctors.

Key highlights included:

Empowering Primary Health Care with Digital Intelligence for UHC, hosted by the Chinese delegation. WONCA's Dr. Anna Luisa Neves of the eHealth Working Party provided expert insights on the digital transformation of primary care.
Implementing Primary Health Care: Building Momentum through the Global Coalition of Countries on PHC, co-organized by Kazakhstan, Brazil, France, and Ethiopia. This event emphasized the need for political leadership, sustainable investment, and a well-trained PHC workforce.
Equity and Integration: Transforming Lives and Livelihoods through Leadership and Action on NCDs, sponsored by a coalition including Barbados, Ghana, Norway, Spain, and the NCD Alliance. The session aligned with many of WONCA's longstanding priorities, particularly regarding social determinants of health and access to comprehensive care including mental health services. We connected with Devora Kestel, Director of Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use at WHO.

We participated in several NSA-led side events covering themes such as pandemic preparedness, gender-neutral HPV vaccination, Health Workforce Recruitment with the Saudi Arabia Accreditation Organization, and "Reshaping Universal Health Coverage - The Path Ahead" led by the Taiwan Government, as well as inclusive health governance. Notably, the Laerdal Global Health Foundation announced a USD $25 million investment to support WHO's acute care initiatives—a significant development for emergency care within PHC settings.

Fossil Free Communications launch event

We also participated in the IAPO (International Alliance of Patients' Organizations) event on "A Seat at the Table: Highlighting People-Centered Care through Storytelling and Art."

Additionally, the chair of the Palliative Care SIG, Dr. Shrikant Atreya, represented WONCA at the "Accelerating Progress on Universal Access to Palliative Care" side event.

Dr. Viviana Martinez-Bianchi participated as a panel speaker at the "Break the Fossil Influence" - launch even, where WONCA joined other health organisations in pledging not to engage with communications or PR agencies that work with fossil fuel companies.

Direct Policy Advocacy Through WONCA's Statements

WONCA engaged in both joint and individual advocacy efforts during WHA78. We collaborated with other NSAs in submitting two joint constituency statements:

Agenda Item 13.1 on noncommunicable diseases and cardiovascular risk, led by the International Society of Nephrology.
Agenda Item 16.2, supporting the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body for drafting a WHO instrument on pandemic preparedness, led by the Global Health Council.

Additionally, WONCA delivered four individual statements focusing on topics central to our strategic objectives:

Mental Health and Social Connections (Agenda Item 13.2) - Highlighting the critical role of family physicians in promoting mental health and social well-being in communities.
Universal Health Coverage and Primary Health Care (Agenda Item 13.3) - Advocating for investment in strong PHC systems as a foundational element of UHC.
Health and Care Workforce (Agenda Item 13.7) - Emphasizing the need for adequate training, retention, and support of the PHC workforce globally.
Climate Change and Health (Agenda Item 18.3) - Stressing the environmental responsibilities of the health sector and the impact of climate change on community health.

Read all WONCA's Statements from the 78th World Health Assembly here.
IFMSA representative delivering statement

WONCA with IFMSA representatives Anna Liakopoulou and Lucía Pérez Gómez

These statements were prepared by WONCA and graciously delivered by our partners at IFMSA due to scheduling changes in the WHA agenda. Their support ensured that WONCA's positions were heard and included in the official WHA78 minutes.

Regional Collaboration and Bilateral Engagement

Chair of WONCA Working Party on Quality and Safety, Prof Jose M. (Chema) Valderas

A notable highlight was the bilateral meeting facilitated by WONCA Asia Pacific with the Undersecretary of Health of the Philippines. Discussions focused on expanding family medicine in the country and offering support to neighboring island nations seeking to strengthen their primary care systems. This exemplifies regional collaboration aligned with WONCA's global mission.

Looking Forward: Strategic Reflections and Opportunities

WONCA's participation in WHA78 served not only as a platform for advocacy but also as an opportunity for strategic reflection. One key operational takeaway was the need to optimize our physical presence during WHA to balance engagement with resource constraints. A proposed approach includes a rotating presence strategy, where two delegates attend during the first half of WHA week and two during the second half. This would allow continuous representation while being mindful of travel and accommodation costs.

Looking ahead, WONCA is invited to consider participating in the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases, scheduled for late September 2025 in New York City. This will present another critical opportunity to promote the integration of family medicine into national and global health agendas regarding NCDs.

Conclusion: Advancing Primary Health Care Together

WONCA's presence at WHA78 reaffirmed the relevance and necessity of family medicine in the broader health policy landscape. From mental health to climate change, from universal health coverage to workforce development, family doctors are central to efforts to deliver accessible, quality, and people-centered care.

Shams Syed (Head, Policy and Partnerships, WHO Special Programme on Primary Health Care), Faraz Khalid (WHO Universal Health Coverage & Life Course (UHL) Division) and Michael Kidd (WONCA Past-president and current Australian CMO)

We extend our gratitude to all colleagues and partners who contributed to our participation and advocacy efforts. A special thank you to IFMSA for their collaboration and support in delivering our official statements.

With WHO's John Fogarty and Faraz Khalid

As we continue to strengthen our engagement with WHO and other global stakeholders, we invite our members and regions to remain involved and share their perspectives. The journey toward health for all continues—and WONCA remains at the forefront, guided by our mission to improve quality of life through excellence in family medicine.

Stay tuned, stay engaged—we look forward to seeing you in Lisbon.