The Philippines used its national statement at the 76th World Health Assembly to highlight the need for greater international collaboration in addressing global health inequalities.
Dr. Rosario Vergeire, Acting Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH), urged other Member States and the Secretariat of the World Health Organization (WHO) to work together to fill the longstanding gaps in access to health care and the determinants of health exposed by the pandemic.
Dr. Vergeire emphasized the wide range of factors that affect health outcomes. “Health security must not only encompass threats to health, but also social determinants such as conflict, education, employment and housing,” he said.
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“We call on WHO to lead discussions to ensure that health systems are able to address non-health factors, including climate change and ageing,” added Dr Vergeire.
Next, the head of the Department of Health encouraged the other Member States to “strengthen local capacities in health governance, recovery financing, clinical research, health intelligence and agricultural investments”, while calling for “equitable access to technologies and expertise, including vaccines, PPE, and logistics, to mitigate the effects of future pandemics.”
“Health security must not only cover threats to health, but also social determinants, such as conflict, education, employment and housing”
The World Health Assembly is the main governing and decision-making body of the World Health Organization. The 76th Assembly, which was held from May 21 to 30, 2023, coincides with the 75th anniversary of the WHO and is expected to set the collective priorities of the 196 Member States post-COVID-19. The Philippines is a founding member of the WHO.
