According to the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippines will preside over the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland, in May 2025.
Members of the Western Pacific Regional Office of the World Health Organization proposed the Philippines to be the organization's next president.
PH as decision-making leader
The WHO's highest decision-making body is the Assembly, which is held every year in Geneva. Delegations from all 194 WHO member states, including 37 Western Pacific nations and regions, attend.
The WHA's primary responsibilities include establishing the organization's policies, selecting the director general, overseeing financial policies, and examining and approving the planned program budget.
Since the WHO was established in 1948, the nomination is significant since it marks the first time the Philippines would serve as president of the Health Assembly.
The WHA president oversees the Assembly's actions and directs its crucial deliberations and choices about international health programs and policy.
Nomination comes at a crucial time
The Philippines' nomination, according to Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, comes at a critical juncture given the nation is working on a number of international health programs that aim to develop the health workforce to solve gaps in healthcare delivery, among other challenges.
“Filipinos are recognized as bridge-builders in the international community. Our nomination by the Western Pacific Member States as WHA78 President is a recognition of our collective contribution and leadership in international health,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said
The Lao People's Democratic Republic was the last Western Pacific country to produce a WHA president, which was back in 2019.
