World Health Assembly opened by Swiss President Alain Berset
Geneva, 21.05.2018 - Alain Berset, President of the Swiss Confederation, has opened the Seventy-first World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva and congratulated the World Health Organization (WHO) on its 70th anniversary. This year’s Assembly, which is being held from 21 to 26 May, is focusing on universal health coverage and improving access to health services. President Berset will also be meeting a number of health ministers for discussions in Geneva.
Today, at least half of the world's population lacks access to essential health services. In addition, 100 million people suffer severe financial hardship every year as a result of health expenses. In its 70th anniversary year, the World Health Organization (WHO) has therefore decided to focus on the issue of universal health coverage.
Among the items on the WHA agenda is the approval of the WHO's general programme of work for the period 2019-2023. Here, the strategic priorities are to achieve universal health coverage, address health emergencies and promote healthier populations. In addition, the member states intend to step up implementation of the International Health Regulations (adopted in 2005) so as to improve prevention of the international spread of diseases. Also to be discussed is how global access to medicines and vaccines can be improved.
Access to health services may be restricted in particular during protracted armed conflicts. In some cases, parties to a conflict may deliberately target patients, health personnel and infrastructure, thus impeding access to healthcare over the longer term. On the afternoon of the opening day of the WHA, Switzerland, together with Afghanistan and other partners, is holding an event devoted to the topic of universal health coverage in emergencies of this kind. The event will be co-chaired by the Swiss President Alain Berset and the Afghan Public Health Minister
Ferozuddin Feroz.
The Swiss President will also be taking this opportunity to hold discussions with other health ministers in Geneva. Bilateral talks are planned with countries including France, Germany and Canada, and with the Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
The WHA is the decision-making body of WHO. Each year, delegates of WHO member states meet in Geneva in May to review the organization's thematic priorities and financial and organizational policies, and to discuss and approve proposed programmes. This year's gathering is the first to be presided over by the newly elected WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. This year, WHO is also celebrating its 70th anniversary.
Address for enquiries
Nicole Lamon, Head of Communication FDHA,
Tel. +41 (0)78 756 44 49
Publisher
General Secretariat FDHA
http://www.edi.admin.ch
Federal Office of Public Health
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