Pöördumine

ICN International Council of Nurses

The Minister of Health

Ministry of Health and Social Affairs

Suu r-Ameerika 1

10112 Tallinn

Estonia

13 March 2026

Your Excellency,

Re: Nurses at the World Health Organization’s 79’ World Hecilth Assembly, 18-23

May 2026, Geneva, Switzerland

1 am writing on behalf of the International Council of Nurses (IcN) and our national

nurses’ association (NNA) members to encourage you to include a nurse in your

country’s delegation to the 7gtui session of the World Health Assembly (wHA). As a

federation of NNAs representing the over 30 million nurses in over 140 countries we

are committed to ensuring quality of care and sound heaith policies globally and

view the discussions and decisions of the WHA as very significant to nurses.

Nurses are an important partner in setting and enacting health policy and, over

the years, we have seen the benefits of nursing input in the deliberations of the

WHA. Having nurses’ perspective in the current debate and policy setting in

national, regional and international forums will enhance the range of robust and

practical solutions required to address giobal health challenges.

We would also like to use this important opportunity to meet with you to brief

you on ICN’s work and key priorities on the WHA agenda in order to support and

advance nursing in your country. To arrange a bilateral meeting please contact

my Executive Assistant, Marie Carrillo ([email protected]).

The 7gth WHA agenda contains several items where involvement of the nursing

profession in the discussion is critical. These include mental health;

noncommunicable diseases; immunization; primary healthcare; international

recruitment of health personnel; 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; data,

digital health and artificial intelligence; antimicrobial resistance; weH-being and

health promotion; rehabilitation systems; health of Indigenous Peoples; public

SAAB ii N U D

2O.a.

ICN • CIE • CII ‘r 3, Place Jean Marteau, 1201 Geneva - Switzerland — Tel.: +41 22 908 01 00

Fax: +41 22 908 01 01 — e-mail: icnicn.ch — web: www.icn.ch

heaith and sociai measures; maternal, infant and young child nutrition; health

emergency preparedness and response; substandard and faisified medical

products; economics of heafth for ali.

The enormous pressures on heaith care professionais and the underinvestment in

the nursing profession have piaced the nursing workforce in a very precarious

piace. The nursing shortage is currentiy estimated at 6 miilion. The care and

ieadership of nurses to address giobal health chaiienges everywhere must be

supported and vaiued. inciuding a nurse in your delegation is criticai to ensure

nurses are vaiued decision- makers and that their unique expertise is included in

solutions to address current and future heaith chaiienges.

Nurse Ieaders in your Country hold great power in their ability to transform heaith

systems and we urge you to harness this power by ensuring their involvement and

their voice is heard at the WHA. We iook forward to meeting you and a nurse

delegate from your country.

Yours sincereiy,

c.C.: Presidents/Executive Directors/Generai Secretaries of 1CN NNAs member

ICN • CIE • CII

3, Place Jean Marteau, 1201 Geneva - Switzerland — Tel.: +41 22 908 01 00

Fax: +41 22 908 01 01 — e—mciil: icnicn.ch — web: www.icn.ch

Chief Executive Officer