International SOS at the World Health Assembly 2024: Addressing Global Health Challenges Together

NOTABLE DISCUSSIONS & RESOLUTIONS

• Efforts to Strengthen the Global Pandemic Response Agreed

Member States agreed on a package of amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) to finalize a pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response agreement within a year, at the latest. This agreement, often referred to as the "Pandemic Treaty," seeks to ensure equitable access to medical countermeasures and adequate financing for pandemic preparedness. The draft reaffirms the sovereignty of nations to dictate their health policies while promoting international cooperation for pandemic response but crucially does not allow for enforcement. Does this mean countries are going to be better equipped for the next one? Possibly – but organizations will need to continue their own planning and response measures to protect their personnel.

• Landmark Resolution Passed on Health and Natural Hazards 

The assembly passed a resolution to address the urgent need for decisive measures to confront the very real health risks posed by natural disasters and extreme weather situations. By strengthening capacity and providing technical support to national health ministries, the goal is to integrate health into national and international climate policy frameworks and support countries in building climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems. This is a major achievement and will enable a fresh focus on the topic. Organizations are also increasingly seeing a need to protect their people assets against this real and present risk.

• $11.1 Billion Global Health Strategy Approved 

The WHA approved a four-year strategy worth $11.1 billion focusing on various global health challenges. The six strategic objectives include responding to health threats posed by natural hazards, addressing root causes of ill health, advancing primary health care, improving health service coverage and financial protection, preparing for health risks, and sustaining responses to health emergencies. It aims to build resilient health systems and achieve health-related Sustainable Development Goals by 2028.

• Efforts to Enhance Mental Health Support in Emergencies Approved

The assembly passed a resolution to enhance mental health and psychosocial support across all stages of emergencies, including conflicts, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises. Nearly all people affected by emergencies, including humanitarian workers, experience psychological distress, with 1 in 5 likely to develop a mental health condition. The resolution underscores the need for long-term investments in community-based services and cross-sectoral coordination to improve access to care. 

• New Global Action Plan for Infection Prevention and Control Endorsed 

• Resolution on Social Participation for Primary Health Care Passed

Member States passed a resolution on social participation in national health planning and implementation, which paves the way for people, communities, and civil society to have a stronger voice in influencing the decisions that affect their health and wellbeing. The resolution addresses health inequities and trust erosion in health systems, especially given global challenges such as natural hazards, conflicts, and pandemics.

These decisions and agreements reflect the World Health Assembly’s commitment to enhancing health systems, promoting equity, and effectively responding to emerging health threats through comprehensive strategies, international cooperation, and robust funding mechanisms.

KEY REFLECTIONS ON WHA SIDE EVENTS

• Climate and Health

With a strategy for enhanced support on natural hazards and health now formalised, many events discussed potential solutions and resolutions to adapt to the health risks posed by natural disasters and extreme weather situations. These included initiatives to strengthen health systems' resilience, enhance surveillance and early warning systems for climate-related health threats, and policies that better protect us all from environmental pollutants, which contribute to millions of deaths per year. Our own experience supporting organizations impacted by extreme weather events, air pollution and vector-borne diseases reminds us daily that the need for action is real. Practical solutions are now needed for organizations to address this hazard.

• Wellbeing and Resilience in the Healthcare Sector

During a side event led by the University of Utah - Office of Global Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations, Women in Global Health and International SOS – represented by Dr Anthony Renshaw, Global Health Advisor – the panel discussed ways to build mental health resilience among health workers, particularly in the context of burnout and political anxiety. There remains a clear need for a concerted strategy on mental health and wellbeing, including strategies to enhance the resilience of our health workforces.

• Prevention & Control of NCDs 

• Towards Malaria Elimination

We attended sessions on eliminating malaria, reminded that this disease, like many other communicable diseases, is often one of poverty and that reaching hard-to-reach populations is key. Building partnerships with credible in-country partners to help bridge these gaps will be needed if we are to achieve reduction goals.  It is clear that tremendous progress has been made with now two malaria vaccines in use in Africa, and good examples of countries like the Republic of Cabo Verde achieving malaria elimination. However, in many locations malaria control has taken a backward step. Climatic changes, including large-scale flooding incidents, have pushed back these efforts substantially, and thus, the focus is on developing long-term sustainable solutions for malaria control. What role could businesses operating in malaria endemic regions play in this? 

• Tackling Infodemia

Infodemia, defined as excessive amounts of information, including false or misleading information - has been a growing concern for public health authorities globally. There are some initiatives aimed at improving media literacy, as well as efforts to strengthen partnerships with social media platforms. From our vantage point, engaging with trusted sources of information, including those working at the front line of health delivery can help ensure accurate information reaches governments. organizations, and the public.

• Global Health Forum (GHF)

With its very engaging plenary sessions and panel discussions, the GHF touched upon priorities in global health ranging from initiatives to help with the preparedness and response to climate-related health effects, to ways in which optimizing the tools in the fight against malaria could help bring the world closer to the goal of eliminating this disease, not to mention Mental Health and the fight against NCDs. A common denominator for all these challenges is that building resilient health systems, in the broadest sense, is indispensable. No country or organization can achieve these goals on their own. Multilateral private-public partnerships are crucial, and the space is there for their contribution to sustainable solutions.

To learn more about how International SOS engages with governments, donors, international organizations and the private sector to drive positive outcomes in global health, see here.