World Health Assembly Establishes Joint Process to Support Reforms of Global Health Architecture

The World Health Assembly decided on May 22, 2026, to launch a Member State-led process to reform the global health architecture. Hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), the initiative aims to update global health governance to address evolving disease burdens, AI integration, and funding gaps to improve equity and access.

Member States agreed that this joint process will develop recommendations to meet the collective needs of countries and communities. According to the Assembly, the reform process will draw on existing initiatives and elements of the UN80 Initiative. The WHO Director-General must submit a final report with transformation options to the next World Health Assembly in 2027.

The decision follows a recognition by Member States that the current global health architecture has not kept pace with the modern environment. The Assembly cited several drivers for this gap, including the expansion of national health sovereignty, rapid evolution in digital technologies and AI, and contractions in health financing.

Additionally, the Assembly noted that an increase in the number of health actors has led to fragmentation, duplication, and power imbalances. These factors, according to the proposal adopted by the Assembly, have negatively impacted country leadership and ownership of health initiatives.

Why did the Assembly pass a resolution on stroke and precision medicine?

Delegates approved the first-ever World Health Assembly resolution on stroke on May 22, 2026. The resolution, titled Reducing the burden of stroke: strengthening prevention, acute care, rehabilitation and health-system readiness, was proposed by Egypt and co-sponsored by Chile, Georgia, Palestine, Paraguay, and Tunisia.

View this post on Instagram about Member States, World Health Assembly

The move responds to a significant increase in global risk. According to the Assembly, the lifetime risk of stroke rose by 50% over the last 20 years, with one in four adults now expected to experience a stroke. In 2021, stroke ranked as the third leading cause of death and disability globally, with an estimated 93.8 million cases.

Alongside stroke, the Assembly approved a resolution on precision medicine to move toward more personalized care. Precision medicine uses genomic, molecular, and clinical data to target prevention and treatment. Member States noted that while this can improve cancer survival and rare disease diagnosis, low- and middle-income countries face gaps in laboratory capacity and genomic data representation.

To implement these objectives, the Secretariat requires an estimated $2.98 million budget. The WHO will now determine if a full global strategy on precision medicine is necessary after mapping existing guidance.

How will medicine and vaccine safety monitoring change?

The Assembly approved a resolution on May 22, 2026, to strengthen pharmacovigilance systems worldwide. This resolution focuses on the rapid detection and management of safety signals for vaccines, medicines, and medical devices.

The WHO stated that the need for these updates became clear during the COVID-19 pandemic. Current challenges include unequal regulatory capacities across borders and the spread of disinformation that undermines trust in public health interventions.

Member States committed to integrating patient reporting mechanisms and utilizing AI and real-world data to improve surveillance. The WHO will provide technical tools for smart pharmacovigilance, with progress reports scheduled for future Assemblies between 2028 and 2032.

What is the Global Strategy for Integrated ECO Care?

The Assembly adopted the Global Strategy for Integrated Emergency, Critical and Operative (ECO) Care 2026–2035. This roadmap aims to provide timely and affordable ECO services across all levels of care.

According to the WHO, conditions addressable by ECO care account for an estimated 38 million deaths and 1.3 billion disability-adjusted life years annually. The strategy addresses persistent gaps in health worker skills, equipment shortages, and disrupted continuity of care.

The WHO will develop an implementation action plan with specific targets by the end of 2026.

What is the status of health services in the occupied Palestinian territory?

On May 21, 2026, delegates agreed to continue reporting on health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), including east Jerusalem. This followed a report from the Director-General describing a worsening humanitarian crisis.

The report detailed 1,947 attacks on healthcare across the territory since October 2023, with 986 occurring in the West Bank. In Gaza, health sector losses are estimated at $6.78 billion, including $1.39 billion in infrastructure damage.

The Director-General noted that healthcare services remain under severe strain due to shortages of fuel, supplies, and medicines, despite a ceasefire announced in October 2025.

What other health resolutions were adopted?

Member States endorsed a resolution to expand equitable access to diagnostic imaging through teleradiology. This involves the secure transmission and remote interpretation of medical images to serve remote or underserved areas lacking trained professionals.

In other administrative matters, the Assembly considered Argentina’s notification of withdrawal from the WHO. The Assembly took note of the communication but decided that no further action is desirable at this stage, though it continues to welcome Argentina’s cooperation.

Finally, delegates approved a resolution addressing the public health impacts in Jordan and Gulf Cooperation Council countries following ongoing escalation in the Middle East.