World Health Organization
In our role as a Non State Actor (NSA) in official relations with the World Health Organization, Global Health Council participates in:
- The World Health Assembly
- WHO Executive Board Meetings
- The Working Group on International Health Regulations
- Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response
World Health Assembly
GHC offers our members access to the World Health Assembly (WHA) so that they may participate in key discussions with policymakers and provide valuable input into proposed resolutions. Our delegates represent our coalition at various meetings, briefings, plenaries, and side events throughout the Assembly. Non-corporate GHC members in good standing are eligible to apply for GHC’s accredited delegation.
The 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) took place from May 19 – 27, 2025. As a Non-State Actor (NSA) in official relations with WHO, GHC attended WHA78 to participate in official proceedings, connect with our community, and participate in side events. Read a detailed wrap up of the event here.
Statements GHC made at the 77th World Health Assembly
- Agenda Item 11.1: Universal Health Coverage
- Agenda Item 11.2: Follow-up to the political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases
- Agenda Item 11.8: Antimicrobial resistance: accelerating national and global responses
- Agenda Item 13.4: INB agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response
- Agenda Item 15.4: Climate change, pollution, and health
- Agenda Item 17: GPW14
WHO Executive Board Meetings
The annual WHO Executive Board meeting determines the WHA agenda and addresses resolutions that will be proposed at the convening. GHC actively participates in these meetings, signing on to and/or presenting the following statements at the 156th Executive Board meeting in February 2025:
- Agenda Item 6: Universal Health Coverage
- Agenda Item 15: WHO’s work in Health Emergencies
- Agenda Item 24.2: Governance Reform: Involvement of Non-State actors in WHO’s Governing Bodies
Past statements GHC has made at the World Health Organization’s Executive Board Committee meetings include:
- Constituency Statement on Agenda Item 24.2: Draft fourteenth general programme of work
- Constituency Statement on Agenda Item 14: WHO’s Work in Health Emergencies
- Agenda Item 6: Universal Health Coverage
- Agenda Item 10: End Tuberculosis Strategy
- Agenda Item 11: Road map for Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021-2030
- Agenda Item 13: Antimicrobial Resistance: Accelerating National and Global Responses
- Agenda Item 22: Climate Change, Pollution and Health
- Constituency Statement on Agenda Item 12.1: Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies
- Constituency Statement on Agenda Item 5: Universal Health Coverage
- Agenda Item 5: Draft Global Strategy on infection prevention and control
- Agenda Item 12.1: Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies
Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations 2005
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO Member States are working to improve the existing regulations, described in the International Health Regulations (IHR), for reporting public health events. GHC has been a part of the Working Group, sharing the perspectives and recommendations of NSAs in order to influence the outcome of the negotiations.
- Proposed amendments
- Timeline for the Working Group on Amendments to the IHR regulations 2005
- More on the WGIHR
Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, in December of 2021, the WHO established the intergovernmental negotiating body (INB) to draft a treaty or other instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. In February of 2023, the INB released the Zero Draft of the accord, which is currently being considered. GHC has been participating in INB meetings open to NSAs, providing recommendations and comments to the draft.