25 May 2026—At a World Health Assembly (WHA) marked by geopolitical disputes and a global health landscape in the throes of sweeping changes, the health professions mobilized extensively to ensure that their voices were heard at the year’s largest gathering of health policy makers.
Health professional messaging clearly resonated with national delegates, global stakeholders and civil society representatives. The WHPA side event drew a crowd that filled the room to capacity, and the WHPA constituency statement had one of the largest groups of supporters.
As WHO reduces the priority and resources accorded to health workforce issues as a result of budget cuts, the professions are moving in to fill the gap, and bringing their own priorities to bear. WHPA members clearly demonstrated how the health workforce is the backbone of every health service, with their WHA activities stressing the vital role of health professionals across a broad range of health issues. The competitive advantage of the professions to move into spaces the WHO is deprioritizing is beginning to take shape.
Health is wealth: Why investing in health professionals pays off
The WHPA side event on Tuesday 19 May featured addresses by senior leadership from the five member professions and was complemented by early career perspectives, recognising that the future of healthcare will be shaped by how we support the next generation entering the profession today. It was topped by a valedictory speech from out-going WMA Secretary General Otmar Kloiber, to whom WHPA extends its appreciation for his long and dedicated service.
The event was a unique occasion for the professions to come together, united in their drive to reframe the narrative of health expenditure as an investment rather than a cost. Speakers drove home the message that investing in health professionals is fundamental to the sustainable development goals and economic stability, bringing real economic benefits, as well as improved quality of care and patient safety.
WHPA’s constituency statement, which was delivered to WHA delegates in the Palais des Nations by Erica Burton from ICN, spoke to the same theme. WHPA supported WHO’s draft Strategy of the Economics of Health for All while emphasizing that there is no economic prosperity or population health without a skilled, supported, protected and adequately resourced health workforce.
WHPA messages for member states
During WHA, WHPA completed its engagement with the Expert Advisory Group on the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel, in which it was represented by WMA, by delivering an individual statement led by FIP on the Group’s final report to the WHA. WHPA supported the report’s recommendations to improve the Code of Practice, and urged member states to do more to compensate health systems in countries suffering excessive out-migration of health personnel.
WHPA also delivered an individual statement on data and AI in healthcare, led by WMA. On this increasingly pressing topic, as technological advances continue to accelerate faster than societies can adapt to them, WHPA stressed that AI must support—not replace—the patient–health professional relationship. Licensed health professionals must retain final clinical authority, and patient confidentiality and data privacy must be fully protected.
WHPA members addressed delegates on their own priority topics with a total of 20 individual statements to the WHA. In the face of decreasing vaccination rates and increased anti-vaccination misinformation campaigns, four members chose to speak on Immunization Agenda 2030, and there was also a strong focus among members on mental health, universal health coverage (UHC), non-communicable diseases (NCDs), antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and emergency response.
Community building for the professions
As an Alliance of geographically dispersed organizations, occasions that bring members together are precious opportunities for community building. As well as the WHPA side event, this year also saw a leadership gathering over dinner ahead of the official start of the WHA. Senior figures from Alliance members spent a convivial evening together, sharing work priorities and experiences but also connecting on a more personal level to strengthen their interprofessional relationships.
Record number of WHPA members’ side events
In addition to the WHPA side event, WHPA members hosted no less than 11 side events during WHA79, giving the professions a significant presence spread across the week. Topics were as diverse as the health sector itself, covering digital health, health workforce financing, emergency care, nurse leadership, tobacco control, humanitarian issues, self-care, and occupational oral health.
With WMA co-hosting two official side events and ICN one, WHPA members were able to bring their messages even closer to policy makers. Official side events are held at the WHA venue where national delegates are working, and are typically co-hosted by member states, also providing the professions with more opportunities for close cooperation with policy makers. In between the side events and WHA sessions, WHPA members make the most of the global gathering to hold bilateral meetings with national delegations, health ministers, WHO specialists and leaders, global civil society actors, and in some cases their national member organizations.
Members' side events
Oral Health at Work: A Roadmap for Prevention, Productivity and Workforce Well-being
- 19 May, Royal Hotel
- Organizer: FDI
Self-care essential for primary health care. Pharmacists critical for self-care and Universal Health Coverage
- 18 May, Auditorium at International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
- Organizer: FIP
Addressing the impact of complex crises on global health through safe and sustainable access to medicines and strengthening pharmaceutical contributions to humanitarian action
- 19 May, Auditorium at International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
- Organizer: FIP
Implementing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and wider non-communicable disease prevention targets by integrating the pharmacy workforce
- 19 May, Royal Hotel
- Organizer: FIP
Strategic Leadership for Nurses and Midwives: A Policy Pathway to Stronger Health Systems
- 18 May, International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
- Hosted by G4 Alliance
- Co-hosts: ICN, Butterfly Global Health, Global Surgery Foundation (GSF), Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO), International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists (IFNA), International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), Laerdal Global Health, MARCH Health Care Initiative, Ohana One International Surgical Aid & Education, Operation Smile
Strengthening Nursing for Global Health
- 18 May, ICN Headquarters
- Co-hosted by ICN and WHO
OFFICIAL SIDE EVENT From Global Strategy to Country Impact: Scaling Emergency, Critical and Operative Care
- 18 May, WHO Headquarters
- Hosted by Ethiopia and WFSA-World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists
- Co-hosted by ICN, Medical Women’s Federation, IFMSA-International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations, ICN-International Council of Nurses, International Federation for Emergency Medicine, African Federation for Emergency Medicine-AFEM, International College of Surgeons Global Headquarters, American Heart Association International, and the Laerdal Medical Foundation
- State sponsors: Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Nepal, Georgia, Sudan
Financing the Future: Investing in Health Workforces for Economic Resilience and UHC
- 18 May, Warwick Hotel
- Organizer: WMA
OFFICIAL SIDE EVENT Sustaining the Global Health and Care Workforce Agenda in times of financial challenges?
- 19 May, Palais des Nations
- Co-organizers: Germany and WMA
- Co-hosts: Ethiopia, France, India, Indonesia and Philippines
OFFICIAL SIDE EVENT Accelerating Trusted Digital Health Transformation: Strengthening Data Governance, Interoperability, and Responsible AI for Universal Health Coverage
- 20 May, WHO Headquarters
- Host: Oman
- Co-organizers: WMA, China, Egypt, Kuwait, Palestine, Poland, Tunisia, Qatar, Switzerland, Transform Health, and ZIMAM
Round Table on Health Workforce at WHA79: Sustaining Health Workforce as a Global Health Priority
- 20 May, Warwick Hotel
- Organizer: WMA
The 79th World Health Assembly took place from 18-23 May 2026 in the Palais des Nations, (UNOG Headquarters in Geneva), and at the World Health Organization headquarter building. The WHA is the decision-making body of WHO. It convenes annually in May, bringing together delegations from WHO’s 194 Member States, United Nations agencies, international organizations, as well as non-State actors in official relations with WHO. WHPA’s members are all in official relations with WHO.
Image credit: Collage and infographic by WHPA Secretariat, photos supplied by WHPA members; Thumbnail credit: Elma Okic