Minister Cho Kyuhong: "WHO Financial Crisis Must Be Turned Into an Opportunity for Reform"

'One World for Health':
The 78th World Health Assembly Convenes

Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyuhong, speaking at the 78th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) held in Geneva, Switzerland, called on member states to join efforts to turn the current difficult situation, including WHO's financial crisis, into an opportunity for reform.

The Assembly, held from May 19 to May 26, discussed a range of agenda items under the theme "One World for Health," including the election of the presidium, the 2026-2027 program budget, primary healthcare, chronic diseases, mental health, antimicrobial resistance, traditional medicine, environmental pollution and health, and the eradication of substandard and falsified medicines.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated in his opening remarks that the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement served as an example of the international community demonstrating the spirit of multilateralism even during a crisis. Previously, on the day before the Assembly, WHO officially adopted the first-ever Pandemic Agreement aimed at a joint response to global health crises. He also highlighted major achievements by WHO over the past year, such as tobacco control, expanded vaccine distribution, infectious disease eradication, and continued collaboration with South Korea through the bio workforce development hub, as well as WHO's healthcare response activities in regions facing humanitarian crises.

Director-General Ghebreyesus further emphasized the importance of securing sustainable financing, noting that the scope of WHO's activities is being reduced due to the financial crisis. He stated, "WHO is an organization for the 8 billion people of the world," and added, "We must seize the current crisis as an opportunity to redefine the future of WHO."

During the keynote speeches by the heads of delegations from each member state, Minister Cho, representing the Korean government, expressed gratitude for the tolerance and flexibility shown by countries in finalizing the text of the Pandemic Agreement. He also introduced South Korea's participation in the international community, including the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) High-Level Meeting on Health and the Economy scheduled for September, and the bio workforce development hub aimed at strengthening vaccine and therapeutic production capacity. He called on member states to join efforts to turn the current difficult situation, such as the global health crisis and WHO's financial crisis, into opportunities for reform and to create "One World for Health."

Minister Cho also delivered opening remarks at a side event on "Healthy Aging," hosted by Qatar and supported by South Korea, where he introduced South Korea's long-term care insurance system, which enables seniors to "live healthy lives where they have always lived" in preparation for a super-aged society, as well as the "Integrated Care Support" system scheduled to be implemented from 2026.

In a meeting with Dr. Saia Ma'u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Minister Cho discussed topics such as reprioritizing the budget for the Western Pacific region, the re-designation of Indonesia within the Western Pacific region, the APEC High-Level Meeting on Health and the Economy, and the renewal of the Country Cooperation Strategy. In talks with Mustapha Ferjani, Tunisia's Minister of Health and head of delegation, he discussed the 2026-2027 program budget, key agenda items of the Assembly such as the Pandemic Agreement, and ways to enhance bilateral cooperation based on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for health and medical cooperation.

Minister Cho stated, "This World Health Assembly embodies the efforts of WHO and its member states to create 'One World for Health,' even amid the recent financial crisis and various healthcare challenges faced by WHO," and emphasized, "The Korean government will actively contribute to the international community's efforts to guarantee the right to health for all humanity and to create a world where everyone is safe from infectious diseases."