World Health Assembly adopts resolution on Health in 2030 Agenda

The Sixty-ninth World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted an important resolution on Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

At the time when the draft resolution on follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda is being negotiated (see: Final draft of resolution on follow up and review of 2030 Agenda available now!) this resolution provides an important contribution on sustainable development goal (SDG) 3 “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” and other health-related targets to the work of the high-level political forum (HLPF).  Indeed it will ensure that the 2030 Agenda will be considered by the WHA at least every two years, as well as being considered by the HLPF, according to procedures currently being discussed.

The resolution, in its preambular paragraphs, in addition to reaffirming the WHO Constitution, also reaffirms resolution 70/1 on the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and recalls its previous resolutions on health in the post-2015 development agenda. It also recognizes universal health coverage (UHC), the role of health workers and the importance of strengthening health systems. 

The preambular paragraphs also have sections on the SDGs, particularly SDG 3 and its “specific and interlinked targets, as well as other health related goals and targets. It highlights the health concerns covered by the targets, such as universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including family planning, information  and education. It also specifies Ebola among communicable diseases as well as addressing growing antimicrobial resistance, which is referred to in the Agenda’s Declaration, but not in the SDGs. On the means of implementation, it reaffirms targets 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d, as well as reiterating Goal 17 and notes the engagement of civil society in addition to Governments, the private sector, the UN and others as well as mobilizing all available financial and non-financial resources. The HLPF is recognized, under the auspices of the General Assembly and ECOSOC, as having “the central role in overseeing follow-up and review at the global level.”

The resolution calls on Member States to scale up “comprehensive action at national, regional and global levels”; to prioritize health system strengthening; to emphasize cooperative action to tackle social, environmental and economic determinants of health; to prioritize appropriately investments in health; to support research and development of vaccines and medicines; to strengthen the dialogue between medical, veterinary and environmental communities especially on “emerging and re-emerging diseases along with the emergence of antimicrobial resistant pathogens; development “on the basis of existing mechanisms wherever possible, quality, inclusive, transparent national accountability processes…”

It further calls on the WHO Director-General to assist in the integrated implementations of the SDGs, including promoting a multisectoral approach and the active engagement of WHO at all levels; working with the Inter-Agency and Expert Group (IAEG) on SDGs on the “further development and finalization of the health-related SDG indicators;” facilitating enhanced North-South, south-South and triangular regional and international cooperation; and supporting the thematic reviews of progress, “including cross-cutting issues, where possible, feeding into and being aligned” with the HLPF cycle. 

The WHO should report “on a regular basis, at least every two years, on global and regional progress towards achieving the health goal as a whole and its interlinked targets…” WHO should also support Member States in “strengthening national statistical capacity at all levels…” as well as to strengthen reporting on the health goal and its interlinked targets.”  Progress in implanting this resolution should be reported “at least once every two years, to the Seventieth World Health Assembly through the Executive Board.”

For full resolution see here (from page 50 onwards).