WHO Assembly advances reforms, stroke resolution, and pharmacovigilance
9 reported
The 79th World Health Assembly on May 22, 2026, established a Member State-led joint process to support reforms of the global health architecture, hosted by WHO and involving global health partners. Delegates approved the first-ever Assembly resolution on stroke, calling for stronger action on prevention, acute care, and rehabilitation. A resolution to strengthen pharmacovigilance systems worldwide was also approved, aiming to improve safety monitoring of medicines and vaccines. The Assembly adopted a new Global Strategy for Integrated Emergency, Critical and Operative (ECO) Care 2026–2035. Member States endorsed a resolution to expand access to diagnostic imaging through teleradiology. Additionally, the Assembly considered Argentina’s withdrawal notification from WHO and agreed by consensus that no further action is desirable at this stage.
What’s reported
The Assembly decided to establish a Member State-led joint process, hosted by WHO, to support reforms of the global health architecture.
Delegates approved the first-ever World Health Assembly resolution on stroke, titled “Reducing the burden of stroke: strengthening prevention, acute care, rehabilitation and health-system readiness.”
Over the past 20 years, the lifetime risk of stroke has increased by 50%, with 1 in 4 adults expected to experience a stroke in their lifetime.
In 2021, stroke was the third leading cause of death and disability worldwide, accounting for an estimated 93.8 million cases, including 11.9 million new cases.
The Assembly approved a resolution to strengthen pharmacovigilance systems worldwide, responding to lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Assembly approved a new Global Strategy for Integrated Emergency, Critical and Operative (ECO) Care 2026–2035.
Conditions addressable by ECO account for an estimated 38 million deaths and 1.3 billion disability adjusted life years annually.
Member States endorsed a resolution to strengthen equitable access to essential diagnostic imaging through teleradiology.
The Assembly considered Argentina’s withdrawal notification from WHO and agreed by consensus that no further action is desirable at this stage.
Key figures
WHO Director-General (requested to submit a final report on global health architecture reforms to next year’s Assembly)
Egypt (proposed the stroke resolution)
Chile, Georgia, Palestine, Paraguay, Tunisia (co-sponsored the stroke resolution)
Sources: World Health Organization
