Latest news with #78thWorldHealthAssembly
Nikkei Asia
15-07-2025
- Health
- Nikkei Asia
China rewrites global health leadership as US retreats from WHO
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other attendees applaud during the 78th World Health Assembly on May 20 in Geneva. © AP Ruby Wang is the founder of LINTRIS Health, a health and life sciences consultancy bridging East and West for public and private sector clients, and founder of the ChinaHealthPulse newsletter. The 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva this May marked a turning point in global health diplomacy. For the first time since the founding of the World Health Organization, the U.S. was both financially and diplomatically absent. It sent no senior officials and has withdrawn all funding, with little indication of re-engagement.
Bangkok Post
14-07-2025
- Health
- Bangkok Post
High rates hurt public healthcare
May's 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) -- the annual meeting of the World Health Organization's member states -- ended on a self-congratulatory note. From an agreement on pandemic preparedness to increases in assessed contributions to the WHO, there were plenty of achievements to tout. But there was an elephant in the room, hiding behind a banner reading "One World for Health": the high borrowing costs faced by African countries. Despite being the world's youngest continent, Africa bears 24% of the global disease burden. Yet it accounts for less than 1% of global health spending. In 2001, African countries decided to take matters into their own hands, pledging to devote at least 15% of national budgets to health. Yet more than two decades later, only two countries have reached that target. On average, governments on the continent allocate a mere 1.48%of their GDP to health, while 37% of health spending comes directly out of citizens' pockets. Borrowing costs are a major reason why. Whereas high-income countries borrow at an interest rate of 2–3%, their African counterparts can face rates above 10%. This discrepancy -- which reflects investors' perception of heightened risk in African economies -- means that governments on the continent often must choose between making debt payments or buying medicines, hiring doctors and building health clinics. The cost of capital costs lives. Consider Kenya's ill-fated Managed Equipment Services (MES) programme, a public-private partnership aimed at enhancing service availability at hospitals through the provision of modern equipment. The programme did provide high-tech equipment to many hospitals. But, given the cost of capital for investment, Kenya could not deliver the infrastructure or personnel to use it. In Ghana, where debt-service costs have left little fiscal space, nearly 75% of the government's health budget now goes to health-care workers' wages, leaving little funding for other crucial expenses, from medicines to maternal-health programmes. In 2023, a shortage of antimalarial drugs forced some rural clinics to direct patients to purchase the medicine they needed directly from private pharmacies. Many families thus faced a harrowing choice between being driven further into poverty and sending a loved one to an early grave. For many African countries, high borrowing costs have contributed to dependence on the goodwill of foreign donors. But aid-dependent health-care systems are fundamentally fragile. We saw this during the Covid-19 pandemic, and we are seeing it now, as European countries scale back their development spending to free up space for other priorities, and the United States dismantles its entire aid apparatus, beginning with the US Agency for International Development (USAID). In Malawi, those cuts have already forced critical programmes, such as for HIV treatment and prevention, to scramble for funds. Local NGOs have been forced to lay off outreach workers, and patients with tuberculosis or HIV have gone without care. As one community health nurse in South Africa lamented, "My fear is mortality is going to be very high". Africans' health cannot depend on the generosity of others. Governments must be able to invest in stable, resilient, self-sustaining health systems. To raise funds, Senegal and Zambia are experimenting with "health taxes" on alcohol and sugary drinks. Debt-for-health swaps in countries like Seychelles have shown promise. Nigeria's diaspora health bonds could unlock billions in financing if they are matched with concessional capital and guarantees from multilateral banks. Ultimately, there is no substitute for affordable, predictable capital. That is why lowering borrowing costs must be a key priority at the G20 summit this November. This means, first, tackling structural factors such as outdated international regulations and biases in risk assessments. It also means delivering timely and meaningful debt relief. This will require innovative mechanisms, such as debt-for-health swaps, and increasing the use of pause clauses in existing loans and new debt contracts that allow for debt payment suspension when a pandemic strikes. A third priority must be to secure continued political support for multilateral health programmes -- such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria -- thereby ensuring continuity in the delivery of the relevant health services. Finally, the G20 must seek to expand African countries' access to concessional financing for health infrastructure through multilateral development banks. The G20 is the right forum for these actions. Its mandate includes addressing global challenges, promoting economic cooperation, and fostering global stability. The cost of capital is beyond any one country's capacity to address, and it is producing a destabilising global-health emergency. The upcoming G20 summit, the first to be held in Africa -- and the second with the African Union as a permanent member -- represents a particularly fitting moment for such action. Within African countries, mechanisms -- based on civil-society engagement -- for ensuring accountability for how funds are spent are also essential. But the first step must be to free up the funds. To achieve "One World for Health", all countries must be able to access the means to invest in health care. ©2025 Project Syndicate Serah Makka is Africa Executive Director at The ONE Campaign. Rosemary Mburu is Executive Director of WACI Health.
The Hindu
08-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
No health without skin health: a global call to end skin bleaching and prioritise dermatological equity
Every July 8, World Skin Health Day asks the world to reconsider what we see and what we choose not to see. Skin, the body's largest organ, is also its most visible and most vulnerable. It is both a physical barrier and a mirror of health, dignity and social belonging. Yet, despite its profound role in our well-being, skin health is routinely side-lined in global health agendas. In 2025, the message of World Skin Health Day is clear and urgent: #NoHealthWithoutSkinHealth. This year's campaign builds on a historic achievement: the 78th World Health Assembly passed a landmark resolution officially recognising skin diseases as a public health priority. 'The resolution is the result of years of work by ministries of health and the dermatological community,' says Esther Freeman, director of global health dermatology at Harvard Medical School. 'Skin disease touches so many areas, infectious diseases, neglected tropical diseases, even cancer. Its inclusion signals long-overdue recognition.' 'What this means for patients is greater visibility, better funding, and stronger policy support,' she adds. 'It opens the door to cross-sectoral partnerships and the integration of dermatology into broader health systems.' But recognition is just the beginning. One of the most urgent and visible challenges facing dermatologists today is the global crisis of skin bleaching and this year, International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) has taken a bold next step. The International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) represents over 200 dermatological societies across the globe. The World Skin Health Day is a join initiative by the ILDS and the International Society of Dermatology (ISD). These societies collectively include more than 2,00,000 dermatologists, serving an estimated 4–5 billion people worldwide - particularly when accounting for both direct clinical care and public health outreach. Together, they work to elevate skin health on the international stage, advocate for underserved populations, and influence policy at institutions like the World Health Organization. The campaign is more than symbolic - it aims to unite clinicians, researchers, public health professionals, patients and policymakers in recognising that healthy skin is not a luxury, but a fundamental part of human health. A crisis hidden in plain sight Globally, more than 1.8 billion people live with at least one skin disease, making skin conditions one of the most common human health problems. Conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, infections, leprosy, pigmentary disorders, and skin cancers cut across age, geography, and social status. But their visibility often brings stigma, especially when access to treatment is limited. 'Skin diseases are among the most visible and stigmatised conditions worldwide, yet they continue to be sidelined in the global health agenda,' says Rashmi Sarkar, director and professor of dermatology, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi and Regional Director of ILDS (Asia, Middle East and Africa). 'You cannot speak of health equity while ignoring the skin. Skin health is not cosmetic- it is central to mental wellbeing, quality of life, and social inclusion.' Building on the World Health Assembly resolution, the ILDS, in a new resolution, is calling for urgent global action against skin bleaching - a dangerous and deeply-rooted practice affecting communities across Africa, Asia, South America and the Caribbean. The dangers of skin bleaching 'Skin bleaching is not about beauty. It is a symptom of something much deeper,' says Prof. Sarkar. 'It stems from systemic colourism, colonial histories, and socio-cultural messaging that equate lighter skin with success, desirability, and access. These narratives are reinforced every day - on screens, in advertisements and even, at times, in clinical spaces.' People often use bleaching products in an attempt to lighten or 'brighten' their skin tone, unaware of the serious risks involved. Many of these products contain potent steroids, hydroquinone, mercury and other heavy metals. These substances can severely compromise the skin barrier, leading to conditions like exogenous ochronosis,steroid-induced acne, skin thinning, and even systemic toxicity. 'The creams may seem harmless, even helpful at first glance,' explains Prof. Sarkar, 'but they can cause irreversible damage—both physically and psychologically. And because many are self-compounded or sold through informal channels, their safety is not regulated at all.' This isn't just a women's issue. 'We are now seeing increasing numbers of young men using skin-lightening products,' she adds. 'Social media pressures, dating preferences, and workplace discrimination are pushing men toward the same harmful practices. Skin bleaching cuts across gender, age, geography, and economic background. It is a full-blown public health crisis.' Prof. Sarkar has worked with partners across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East to bring global attention to this issue. The Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL) has also played a pivotal role, making awareness about steroid misuse, skin bleaching and its consequences a national campaign priority. 'This year's World Skin Health Dayis not just about telling people to stop using creams. It's about rewriting the story,' she says. 'We must educate people that the skin they have is the skin they're meant to have. Darker skin is not a flaw - it is functional, protective and beautiful. We need to challenge the very idea that lighter is better.' Cross-sectoral action The new ILDS resolution is a call for cross-sectoral action. Dermatologists cannot fight this alone. 'We need public health leaders, media influencers, government regulators, educators, and people from all walks of life to join us,' she urges. 'Because it's not enough to just treat the damage - we must prevent it, by shifting both culture and policy.' Prof. Sarkar emphasises that skin health is often a window into systemic health. 'The skin is where we first see signs ofmalnutrition, HIV, diabetes, autoimmune disease - especially in low-resource settings. If we ignore the skin, we miss crucial opportunities for early diagnosis and care.' In her work across countries, she has seen first-hand how lack of dermatological training and access creates wide inequities in care. 'We need dermatology included in national health programmes, greater investment in training, research and especially in regulation of harmful products. But more than anything, we need compassion,' she says. 'Every person deserves care, regardless of the colour of their skin.' More than a medical campaign As the world marks World Skin Health Day 2025, Prof. Sarkar reminds us that this is more than a medical campaign, it is a movement. Clinics around the world will host free skin health consultations, school programmes, and community awareness drives. Social media will share stories of real people who've lived with the stigma, damage and courage to reclaim their skin. Later this year, the ILDS will convene the 4th World Skin Summit in Cape Town, where leaders from over 80 countries will gather to discuss how to make skin care more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable. 'Our message is clear,' says Prof. Sarkar. 'We cannot keep skin health at the margins. If we truly want universal health coverage, dignity in care and equity in public health - then skin must be part of the conversation.' She concludes:'What is visible is not always seen. Until we see the skin and the people who live in it, there can be no health for all.' (Dr. Monisha Madhumita is a consultant dermatologist at Saveetha Medical College, Chennai.
News18
29-06-2025
- Health
- News18
‘Success Of Health Workers': PM Modi On India Being Declared Trachoma-Free Nation
Last Updated: Last month, India was awarded the Certificate of Elimination of Trachoma as a Public Health Problem by the WHO at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the success of Indian health workers after World Health Organisation (WHO) declared India free of Trachoma, an eye disease. While addressing the 123rd episode of his monthly radio program, Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi said, 'I am delighted to share with you that WHO has declared India free of Trachoma, an eye disease. This is the success of our health workers. 'Jal Jeevan' Mission has contributed to this." He also mentioned about the International Yoga Day and said that millions across the country and the world took part in the celebrations. Addressing the radio program, PM Modi said, 'On June 21, millions across the country and the world took part in the International Day of Yoga celebrations. It began 10 years ago. Over the 10 years, every year his tradition has become grander than before. This indicates that more people are incorporating yoga into their lives." He further emphasised upon the resumption of Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra and the upcoming Amarnath Yatra. He said that the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra has resumed after a long time, marking a significant moment for devotees. He also said that the Amarnath Yatra is set to begin from July 3, enabling pilgrims to embark on this sacred journey once again. 'My best wishes to those who are about to embark on these pilgrimages," he added. Last month, India was awarded the Certificate of Elimination of Trachoma as a Public Health Problem by the World Health Organisation (WHO) at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva. In October last year, the WHO declared that the Government of India had eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem. India also became the third country in the Southeast Asia region to reach this public health milestone. The government has taken various steps under the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) to eliminate Trachoma. Since 2019, the National Programme has developed a continuous surveillance setup for trachoma cases by collecting case reports from all the districts in the country via sa pecific WHO shared format. The National Trachomatous Trichiasis survey was done in 200 endemic districts of the country during 2021-24, which was a mandate set by WHO.
Scoop
28-06-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Gender Equality And Human Rights Are Indivisible, Foundational And Unconditional
"When human rights are treated like an 'à la carte menu' by governments, and not what they truly are - indivisible, foundational and unconditional... we move fast into dystopia," said Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Right To Health. "We saw during COVID-19 lockdown time that people who were from the most marginalised groups, were furthest pushed behind. These included: peoples from gender diverse communities, women in all diversities, women in sex work, women who use drugs, or young girls, for whom there was hardly any access to care, support and services. Gender-based violence was being more reported during the pandemic. We have learnt the harder way that how we want to ensure marginalised people are included in strengthening the health systems and making them resilient in gender-transformative manner," said Dr Harjyot Khosa, Regional External Relations Director, International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and member of Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for UHC 2030. "We need to engage marginalised communities in all their diversities to adapt and redesign health systems to better protect them within the framework of universal health coverage," Dr Khosa added. She was speaking at a special Side Event alongside 78th World Health Assembly organised by Global Centre for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI), International Planned Parenthood Federation, Fos Feminista, CNS, and partners. Are health systems designed for gender diverse peoples? Dr Harjyot Khosa reminded that health systems are defined and designed for heterosexual married people, like 'good couples' as per the harmful social norms rooted in patriarchy. 'So, perception and level of stigma and misogyny within healthcare systems is what we all grapple with every day. Sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice has to be the first push to deliver on UHC at all levels,' she said. "Just because of the colour of your skin, people become a victim of sexual assault. When they go the police, they are turned away because they are 'not citizens of the country.' Or a woman is denied mental healthcare because of language barriers. These are the realities I face daily in Dominican Republic,' said Dr Eliezer Lappots-Abreu, Executive Director, Health Horizons International, Dominican Republic. "Although we live in Dominican Republic where health access and universal health coverage is part of the norm, but it is not accessible for everybody because it excludes women of colour and immigrants. One of my patients, a Haitian woman, was diagnosed with cervical cancer but when we connected her to services to treat her cancer, she was turned away because of the language barrier. When we arranged a translator for her, we were told that they can understand her but unable to serve her without documentation. Patient wondered if her options was to get palliative care or just die in the house,' he added. UHC is not about coverage alone but Universal Health Care 'It is not accidental that 'C' in 'UHC' (Universal Health Coverage) stands for 'coverage' in the official language but it should be about Care – Universal Health Care. No wonder due to governments focussing on UHC, or coverage, we see increasing space for 'health insurance.' Universal Health Care (and not Universal Health Coverage) better links us with the spirit of Alma Mata Declaration of 1978 (which heralded WHO led call to deliver on Health For All),' said Baba Aye, Health and Social Services Officer, Public Services International (PSI), who earlier worked for two decades in the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria. "We cannot talk of universal health care without health workers for all," said Baba Aye of PSI. He said that when 13% of maternal mortality are from unsafe abortions, and two-thirds of healthcare workers are women themselves, imagine the struggle in countries where abortion is criminalised. Connect the dots: Leprosy, gender justice, human rights, and SDGs Leprosy (also known as Hansen's disease), once feared as an incurable disease, is now treatable with modern medicine. When diagnosed early and accurately, and treated early with right medicines, it is not disabling too. But leprosy-related stigma and discrimination continues to cause havoc in lives of people affected with leprosy and blocks access to care even today. But only when we put leprosy under gender lens, we get to see the alarming inter-sectional stigma and discrimination that impacts women with leprosy. 'Women with leprosy face unique and often invisible struggles. At home, they are often unable to express their problems, even to other women. This is not the case for men. In family matters, whether it is making decisions or purchasing essentials, women are frequently excluded. Gender discrimination plays a major role here,' said Maya Ranavare, President of Association of People Affected by Leprosy. 'Women with leprosy receive lower wages than men for the same work, which is a clear example of gender inequality. These issues are compounded by the stigma of leprosy. But perhaps the most serious impact is in the area of healthcare. Women with leprosy often suffer in silence. Social stigma, economic dependence, and a lack of agency prevent them from seeking timely medical help or sharing their experiences. This intersection of gender and disease requires urgent attention. If we want to truly support people affected by leprosy, we must also address the gender-based injustices they face every day,' she added. 'We need to ensure people living with HIV are covered under UHC (under Indian government's health insurance). Although government of India has done a commendable job in ensuring people living with HIV receive lifesaving antiretroviral therapy and support at government-run healthcare facilities across the country, there are other healthcare needs too which people face - and often have to pay. Out-of-pocket expenses often become catastrophic costs for people with HIV, especially women who face inter-sectional stigma and discrimination at all levels,' said Daxa Patel, co-founder and former President of National Coalition of People Living with HIV in India (NCPI Plus) and leader of Gujarat State Network of People living with HIV (GSNP Plus). Gender inequality and violation of rights exacerbate during conflicts and humanitarian crises Parwen Hussaini of Afghanistan is at risk of her life along with her lesbian lover Maryam (Maryam is under arrest). Parwen was born in Gazhni province of Afghanistan and identifies as a lesbian and Afghan. She narrowly escaped persecution and arrest by the Taliban on 20th March 2025 and she is now in Iran. Parwen and her lover were engaged to get married when they tried to escape. Her lover (Maryam) is being tortured and imprisoned by the Taliban and in prison for over one and a half months (as on 10 May 2025). Nemat Sadat, CEO of 'Roshaniya' (an advocacy network dedicated to assisting LGBTQI+ Afghans) and one of the first Afghans to have openly come out as gay person and to campaign for rights, gender freedom and liberty, said: 'We have a list of over 1,000 LGBTQI+ peoples who still remain in Afghanistan. To this date, we have supported the safe evacuation of 265 people to different countries and we hope that Parwen will also get to a safe place.' 'The ongoing conflict in South Sudan has disempowered a lot of excluded and marginalised peoples including women, LGBTQI+, people living with HIV, persons with disabilities, sex workers, among others. So, when it comes to gender justice the issue of gender-based violence becomes central. There is physical violence, domestic violence, and sexual harassment and sexual abuse. They are raping women rampantly. Due to the conflict there is also increased risk for the displacement of women and girls in South Sudan (which puts them at greater risk of violence). There is also limited access to justice and support for young women, women with disability, and people with HIV because of their condition,' said Rachel Adau, Executive Director of the Women's Empowerment Centre South Sudan. Let us hope that at the upcoming UN intergovernmental High Level Political Forum where UN Sustainable Development Goals for health (SDG3) and gender equality (SDG5) are under review, governments commit to get on track to deliver on all SDG goals and targets. We cannot 'pick and choose' rather deliver on all SDGs. Shobha Shukla – CNS (Citizen News Service) (Shobha Shukla is the award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive Director of CNS (Citizen News Service) and is a feminist, health and development justice advocate. She is a former senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College and current Coordinator of Asia Pacific Regional Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media) and Chairperson of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA received AMR One Health Emerging Leaders and Outstanding Talents Award 2024). She also coordinates SHE & Rights initiative (Sexual health with equity & rights). Follow her on Twitter @shobha1shukla or read her writings here
