WFSA joined constituency statements prioritising Non Communicable Disease diagnosis and the need to invest in the health workforce.
The 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) runs from 18–23 May 2026 . As a non-state actor in official relations with WHO, WFSA can present statements during WHA plenary discussions.
AGENDA ITEM 12.1: Follow-up to the political declaration of the high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) affect over 130 million children worldwide, particularly in low-and-middle-income countries. This includes rare life-threatening NCDs with high global toll and injury risk, such as childhood cancers.
The Political Declaration of the UN 4th High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health included the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer target: at least 60% survival worldwide by 2030, and generating momentum for childhood NCDs.
The WHO recognizes childhood cancer interventions as cost-effective. Investment in this multi-disciplinary area can strengthen health systems, workforce capacity, and services such as imaging, cell and organ transplantation, pathology, anaesthesiology, nursing, vaccination, pain, palliative, and psychosocial care. It can also advance health and safety research, injury and blindness prevention, and timely diagnosis, effective treatment, and comprehensive care. These benefits are relevant across childhood NCDs including sickle cell, eye, and oral health conditions.
Political momentum must now be followed by action through strategic prioritisation of childhood NCDs in national policies and programmes. A safe, well-resourced and trained health workforce and quality medicines and equipment are key, alongside robust surveillance and monitoring to ensure effective reporting and accountability. We urge Member States to decisively build on the UN’s landmark commitment to NCD control with emphasis on childhood cancer to enhance survival, quality of life, safety, and equity for all children.
Statement signatories alongside WFSA: The International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP); Childhood Cancer International (CCI); European Association for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion (EuroSafe); HUMATEM; International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB); International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR); International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC); International Pediatric Association (IPA); International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS); Worldwide Network for Blood & Marrow Transplantation (WNBMT); World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology (WFNMB); Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA)
Item 15.5 Draft Strategy on the Economics of Health for All
An economy of health for all is impossible without sustained, strategic investment in the people who deliver health. There is no economic prosperity or population health without a skilled, supported, protected and adequately-resourced health workforce. Health workforce is an essential pillar of sustainable, effective healthcare systems; with accelerating population ageing, demand for healthcare services will increase.
Addressing the global health workforce crisis requires long-term, sustainable strategies that prioritise workforce well-being as a core system investment, put more women in leadership roles and address health worker mobility equitably. Investments should be guided by research evidence, and the health workforce’s perspective, to identify effective workforce policies. The health and well-being of health personnel directly influence quality of care, patient safety and economic productivity. Neglect leads to higher turnover, absenteeism, preventable errors or unavailability of medical devices, imposing significant and recurring costs on national economies. In contrast, investing in workforce well-being and education improves care quality and safety, strengthens retention, enhances system resilience and delivers substantial economic returns.
The economic evidence is clear. Every dollar invested in health systems generates returns of $2-4USD. Higher health workforce density is associated with longer life expectancy, improved productivity, and sustained economic growth.
Health innovation and macroeconomic strategies must prioritise public health value, equity, and population needs, strengthening primary health care, health promotion and workforce capacity globally.
This statement’s signatories support the adoption of the draft strategy.
Statement signatories alongside WFSA: International Pharmaceutical Federation; International Council of Nurses; World Medical Association; World Confederation for Physical Therapy; International Association For Dental, Oral, And Craniofacial Research; Women in Global Health; International Society of Nephrology; International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations; International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics; International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science; World Organization of Family Doctors; Global Health Partnerships; World Federation of Chiropractic; Alliance for Health Promotion.
