68th World Health Assembly
The World Health Assembly is the top decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO). Its main functions are to determine WHO's policies, elect the Organization's Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed WHO budget.
Ministers of health and other delegates from 194 countries participated in the 68th World Health Assembly expecting to reach agreement on action in a range of areas, including emergency response, Ebola, antimicrobial resistance, prevention and control of dengue, the impacts of pollution on health, and others.
Representing the region of the Americas were ministers of health and other delegates from member countries of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) as well as a PAHO delegation headed by Carissa F. Etienne, PAHO's Director.
The 68th Health Assembly took place on 18–26 May 2015 in Geneva.
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Geneva, 26 May 2015 (PAHO/WHO) -- The 68th World Health Assembly closed today after approving three new resolutions: one on air pollution, one on epilepsy and one laying out the next steps in finalizing a framework of engagement with non-State actors.
In closing the eight-day meeting, Director-General Margaret Chan said the Assembly had passed…
Geneva 25th May 2015 — The World Health Assembly today agreed resolutions to tackle antimicrobial resistance; improve access to affordable vaccines and address over- and under-nutrition.
Tackling antimicrobial drug resistance
Delegates at the World Health Assembly endorsed a global action plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance - including…
Geneva, 23 May 2015 (PAHO/WHO) — Delegates at the World Health Assembly made a series of decisions stemming from the 2014 Ebola virus disease outbreak. These give the WHO Secretariat the go-ahead to carry out structural reforms so it can prepare for and respond rapidly, flexibly and effectively to emergencies and disease outbreaks.…
Geneva, 22 May 2015 (PAHO/WHO) — The World Health Assembly continued progress Friday, reaching agreements on polio eradication; continued implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005); surgical care and medical products.
Polio
Delegates at the World Health Assembly today agreed on a resolution in which Member States recommit to…
Geneva, 20 May 2015 (PAHO/WHO)- Today at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, which ends on May 26, the Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) agreed on a new global malaria strategy to be implemented between now and 2030. The Organization's 2016-2017 budget was also approved.
The global malaria strategy aims to…
Several parallel events were held simultaneously with the World Assembly to address topics of interest to the countries of the Region. Country delegates and panelists from different organizations agreed on the need to keep health at the center of sustainable development objectives after 2015. "This is the ideal time for us to take action to…
Geneva, 20 May 2015 (PAHO/WHO) - Health authorities of the Americas discussed the creation of resilient health systems. They also noted the challenges facing the Region, including the introduction of the chikungunya virus, as well as achievements such as the elimination of rubella in the hemisphere. The delegates addressed the plenary of the 68th…
Geneva, May 19, 2015 (PAHO/WHO)- Ministers and delegates of the Americas addressed the plenary of the 68th World Health Assembly regarding the need to ensure that every country has a solid health system ready to face any adversity. They made reference to the lessons learned during the Ebola outbreak and highlighted the achievements.…
Geneva, May 18, 2015 (PAHO/WHO) - Director-General Margaret Chan of the World Health Organization (WHO) congratulated the countries of the Americas for having obtained certification of the elimination of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome, during opening remarks at the 68th World Health Assembly, taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 18…