Several resolutions were adopted at the 65th World Health Assembly, including on noncommunicable diseases, counterfeit health supplies and the World Health Organization’s role during emergencies.
WHO member states endorsed the global body to lead the health cluster in humanitarian emergencies. The resolution calls on donors to provide sufficient funds for health activities. It also urges the organization to provide humanitarian partners “predictable support” in the form of rapid assessments, development of strategies and action plans, and health monitoring.
Member states also agreed to reduce global deaths from NCDs by 25 percent come 2025, although no specific targets have been set yet. A meeting will be held end of October to complete the global monitoring framework.
In addition, member states approved a draft resolution calling for international cooperation against the proliferation of “substandard, spurious, falsely-labelled, falsified or counterfeit” health supplies. This comes as different mediums such as the Internet become available for its distribution.
The 65th session of the assembly took place May 21-26 in Geneva, Switzerland.
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About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
