Health for all: World Health Assembly 2019 starts in Geneva

The World Health Assembly gathered in Geneva to discuss human health-related issues. Commencing on May 20, it will discuss universal health coverage.

The 72^nd meeting of the top decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO) will run through May 28 with the attendance of some 4,000 representatives from 194 member states. Among the attendees are international organizations, NGOs, and health ministers.

Fahrettin Koca, Turkey's Health Minister, led a Turkish delegation at the meeting held under the theme of "Health for all: leaving no one behind". Addressing the opening ceremony of the meeting, Alain Berset, president of the Swiss Confederation, underlined that everyone should have equal access to health care.

According to Alain Berset, the right to health care cannot be negotiable and invited the countries to meet in the common political will against the rising costs of health care.

The assembly will address various issues, including the health of civilians in conflict areas, fight against obesity, refugee and migrant health, prevention of non-communicable diseases, health impact of air pollution, fight against Ebola virus, infectious diseases and global drug shortage.

The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the organization, appoint the director-general, supervise financial policies, as well as review and approve the proposed programme budget. The Health Assembly is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland.

With inputs from agencies.

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