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20, AVENUE APPIA – CH-1211 GENEVA 27 – SWITZERLAND – TEL CENTRAL +41 22 791 2111 – FAX CENTRAL +41 22 791 3111 – WWW.WHO.INT

... ENCLS: Documents A79/1 and Preliminary timetable WHA79/ENCL./1 and WHA79/ENCL./2

Ref.: C.L.10.2026

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) presents his compliments to Member States and Associate Members and has the honour to convene the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly at 09:00 on Monday 18 May 2026, at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. The Health Assembly will be held in person and will close no later than Saturday 23 May 2026.

Online registration is required to participate in the Health Assembly. Registration can be initiated as of 15 April 2026 by going to the following link: https://events.who.int/WHA79. Registration should be completed by 10 May 2026.

In accordance with resolution WHA49.9 (1996), and to support the aim of achievement of SDG 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls), the Director-General invites Member States to consider that gender balance be applied to their delegations.

The Code of Conduct to prevent harassment, including sexual harassment at WHO events, is available at the following link: Code of Conduct to prevent harassment, including sexual harassment, at WHO events.

In accordance with the call for meaningful youth engagement of the UN Youth Strategy to scale up global, regional and national actions to meet young people’s needs, realize their rights and tap their possibilities as agents of change, the Director-General invites Member States to consider the inclusion of young people, in particular those whose activities and efforts are commendable and impactful at national level within the health sector and its determinants.

Member States are also encouraged to include Parliamentarians in their delegation.

The provisional agenda for the Health Assembly, as prepared by the Secretariat following the decision of the Executive Board at its 158th session, and the preliminary daily timetable are

... enclosed. The provisional agenda and the preliminary daily timetable are subject to approval by the Health Assembly.

Practical information for delegates and information concerning arrangements for the ... conduct of discussion in plenary meetings are enclosed. The discussion this year will focus on

the theme “Reshaping Global Health: A Shared Responsibility”.

Page 2

C.L.10.2026

Documents for the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly can be accessed on the Internet through the WHO website (https://apps.who.int/gb/gov/), as they become available. Delegates are reminded that, as agreed by the Executive Board at its 143rd session, governing body meetings are paperless.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization takes this opportunity to renew to Member States and Associate Members the assurance of his highest consideration.

GENEVA, 23 March 2026

WHA79/ENCL./1

PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR DELEGATES PARTICIPATING IN THE HEALTH ASSEMBLY

REGISTRATION PROCESS

Online registration is required to participate in the World Health Assembly, which will be held in person. Registration can be initiated as of 15 April 2026 by going to the following link: https://events.who.int/WHA79.

Before each meeting, an invitation will be sent to Member States and Associate Members indicating a link to access the electronic Registration System (CVENT). Each participant is invited to register her/himself.

The WHO Department of Governing Bodies will verify the information received in the registration system to generate the meeting badges for in-person meetings and the list of participants.

CREDENTIALS

The credentials shall be issued by the Head of State, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Health, or any other appropriate authority, i.e. Permanent Missions and senior government officials, such as Directors-General for Health. Member States will be represented at the Assembly by not more than three delegates. Alternates and advisers may accompany delegates. A copy of the credentials should be uploaded and submitted through the online registration system before the opening of the World Health Assembly (WHA). Credentials should include the following information for each participant: LAST NAME (in capital letters), first name, title, function, institution, city, gender (unless indicated in title).

TRAVEL EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT

In accordance with resolution WHA50.1 (1997), special consideration will be given to delegates whose countries are classified as least developed countries by the United Nations. WHO will cover the cost of an economy/tourist airfare by the most direct route to Geneva for one delegate of such countries. However, following the rules set forth by the World Health Assembly, WHO will not be able to provide per diem or any other non-airfare expenditures. Please note that reimbursement will be made in Geneva, upon presentation of the air ticket and the invoice. The process of reimbursement takes at least 24 hours therefore requests made after Tuesday 19 May 2026 (close of business) will not be taken into consideration.

VISAS

Attention is drawn to the strict provisions in force regarding entry into Switzerland – those not having the required visa will be refused entry.

As of 13 December 2008, Switzerland has applied the Schengen visa regulations. Therefore, certain nationalities travelling to WHO headquarters to participate in meetings will require a Schengen visa in order to enter Switzerland. Since that date, it is no longer sufficient for a participant to present the invitation letter to obtain a visa. A visa support letter prepared by WHO/HQ is now required.

Before requesting a visa support letter, participants are advised to contact their nearest Swiss embassy or consulate to determine whether they require a visa.

Member States requiring the assistance of WHO to obtain a Swiss Schengen visa are kindly invited to do so when they register for the meeting through CVENT.

WHA79/ENCL./1

ACCESS TO THE PALAIS DES NATIONS AND WHO HEADQUARTERS PREMISES

Members of the delegations should register through CVENT and collect their badge at WHO headquarters to access the Palais des Nations and WHO headquarters.

There is no restriction on the number of individuals forming part of the delegation of Member States and Associate Members.

Please note that due to limited space, the following limitations will apply in the auditorium, where Committee A is convened:

– Up to two members of each delegation of Member States and Associate Members may be present at a time.

– One member of each delegation of Observers and United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations may be present at a time; a maximum of six badges would be issued for each delegation of Observers, United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations.

– Non-State actors in official relations with WHO will be assigned seating in the wing of the auditorium and a reserved seat for purposes of delivering a statement under relevant agenda items; a maximum of six badges would be issued for each delegation of non-State actor in official relations with WHO.

SIDE-EVENTS AT WHA79

Side events will be held at the Palais and at WHO headquarters from Monday 18 May to Friday 22 May. Member States interested in organizing a side event should have submitted an application form per the guidelines provided at WHO | Governance. The list of successful proposals will be available on the same webpage. A link to the final list of events will be included in the WHA79 Journal and can also be accessed on the WHA79 website.

Strategic Roundtables will take place during WHA79 (from Tuesday 19 May through Friday 22 May 2026) on key themes of relevance. The Strategic Roundtables will be indicated in the WHA79 Journal list of meetings.

WHA79/ENCL./2

ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONDUCT OF DISCUSSION IN PLENARY MEETINGS

Resolution WHA52.21 (1999) on reform of the Health Assembly requested the Director-General to make appropriate arrangements for a shortened plenary meeting and, to this end, encouraged group or regional statements in plenary debate. Delegates are requested to limit their individual statements to two minutes in this discussion. Group or regional statements may last up to three minutes.

Theme of the general discussion: “Reshaping Global Health: A Shared Responsibility”.

Tips for speakers in a multilingual meeting

Whether you are chairing or participating in a multilingual meeting it is useful to think about how your message gets across through interpretation. The interpreters are there to help the meeting proceed as if everyone was speaking the same language.

• Please speak at a reasonable pace.

• If you have a written statement, please make sure you send your text at least 30 minutes in advance to [email protected], clearly indicating the member state or region on whose behalf the statement will be read, as well as the specific session and agenda item to which the statement relates. It will be treated as confidential.

• For guidance, three minutes are roughly equivalent to 330 words and two minutes to 220 words.

• Please state figures and names clearly.

• Please spell out acronyms.

Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly ________________________________________________________________________________

Geneva, 18–23 May 2026 A79/1 19 March 2026 ________________________________________________________________________________

Provisional agenda1

Plenary

1. Opening of the Health Assembly

1.1 Appointment of the Committee on Credentials

1.2 Election of the President

1.3 Election of the five Vice-Presidents, the Chairs of the main committees, and establishment of the General Committee

1.4 Adoption of the agenda and allocation of items to the main committees

Document A79/1

2. Report of the Executive Board on its 157th and 158th sessions

Document A79/2

3. Address by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General

Document A79/3

4. Invited speaker(s)

5. Admission of new Members and Associate Members [if any]

6. Executive Board: election

7. Awards

Document A79/INF./1

8. Reports of the main committees

9. Closure of the Health Assembly

1 In accordance with Rules 3 and 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the World Health Assembly, the provisional agenda (providing document numbers) will be dispatched, together with the notice of convocation, not less than 60 days before 18 May 2026.

A79/1 2

Committee A

10. Opening of the Committee2

Provide health

11. Recommitting to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination

Document A79/4

12. Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

12.1 Follow-up to the political declaration of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases

Documents A79/5 and EB158/2025/REC/1, resolution EB158.R1, decisions EB158(1) and EB158(2)

12.2 Mental health

Document A79/5

12.3 Communicable diseases

• Immunization Agenda 2030

Document A79/5

• Road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030

Document A79/5

• End TB Strategy

Documents A79/5 and EB158/2025/REC/1, decision EB158(3)

12.4 Universal health coverage

Documents A79/5 and EB158/2025/REC/1, resolutions EB158.R2, EB158.R3, EB158.R4 and EB158.R5

• Draft global strategy for integrated emergency, critical and operative care, 2026–2035

Documents A79/5 and EB158/2025/REC/1, decision EB158(4)

• Increasing availability, ethical access and oversight of transplantation of human cells, tissues and organs

Documents A79/5 and EB158/2025/REC/1, decision EB158(5)

2 Including election of Vice-Chairs and Rapporteur.

A79/1 3

• Rare diseases: a global health priority for equity and inclusion

Document A79/5

12.5 Primary healthcare

Document A79/5

12.6 Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Document A79/5

12.7 Substandard and falsified medical products

Document A79/5

12.8 Report of the Expert Advisory Group on the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel

Document A79/5

12.9 Draft updated global action plan on antimicrobial resistance

Documents A79/5 and EB158/2025/REC/1, decision EB158(6)

12.10 Harmonization of regulatory approaches, governance and standards for data, digital health and artificial intelligence in the health sector

Document A79/5

Protect health

13. Public health emergencies: preparedness and response

13.1 Report of the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme

Document A79/6

13.2 Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005)

Documents A79/7, A79/INF./2 and A79/INF./3

13.3 Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement

Document A79/8

14. Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

14.1 WHO’s work in health emergencies

Document A79/9

14.2 Strengthening the evidence base for public health and social measures

Document A79/5

A79/1 4

14.3 Poliomyelitis

Document A79/5

14.4 Implementation of resolution WHA75.11 (2022)

Document A79/10

Promote health

15. Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

15.1 Strengthening rehabilitation in health systems

Document A79/5

15.2 Well-being and health promotion

Documents A79/5 and EB158/2025/REC/1, decision EB158(9)

• Outcome of the WHO Commission on Social Connection

Document A79/5

15.3 The health of Indigenous Peoples

Documents A79/5 and EB158/2025/REC/1, decision EB158(10)

15.4 Maternal, infant and young child nutrition

Document A79/5

15.5 Draft strategy on the economics of health for all

Documents A79/5 and EB158/2025/REC/1, decision EB158(8)

Committee B

16. Opening of the Committee3

17. Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan

17.1 Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan

Document A79/11

17.2 Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem

Documents A79/12 and EB158/2025/REC/1, resolution EB158.R6

3 Including election of Vice-Chairs and Rapporteur.

A79/1 5

Power and performance

18. Review and update on matters considered by the Executive Board and the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board

Budget and finance matters

18.1 Results Report (Programme budget 2024–2025: performance assessment) and financial report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025

Documents A79/13, A79/14 and A79/INF./4

18.2 Financing, implementation and performance framework of the Programme budget 2026–2027

Documents A79/15 and A79/INF./5

• Reporting on operational efficiencies

Document A79/16

18.3 Status of collection of assessed contributions, including Member States in arrears in the payment of their contributions to an extent that would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution

Document A79/17

18.4 Special arrangements for the settlement of arrears [if any]

18.5 Assessment of new Members and Associate Members [if any]

18.6 Amendments to the Financial Regulations and Financial Rules [if any]

Audit and oversight matters

18.7 Report of the External Auditor

Document A79/18

18.8 Report of the Internal Auditor

Document A79/19

18.9 External and internal audit recommendations: progress on implementation

Document A79/20

18.10 Proposed amendments to the process for the selection of the External Auditor

Documents A79/5 and EB158/2025/REC/1, decision EB158(19)

Management, legal and governance matters

18.11 Prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment

Document A79/5

A79/1 6

18.12 Governance reform

• Secretariat implementation plan on reform

Document A79/5

18.13 Update on the Infrastructure Fund

• Geneva buildings renovation strategy

Document A79/5

• Update on information management and technology

Document A79/5

Staffing matters

18.14 Human resources: annual report

Documents A79/21 and A79/21 Add.1

18.15 Amendments to the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules

Documents A79/5 and EB158/2025/REC/1, resolution EB158.R8

18.16 Report of the International Civil Service Commission

Document A79/5

19. Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee

Document A79/22

20. Collaboration within the United Nations system and with other intergovernmental organizations

Document A79/23

20.1 Reform of the global health architecture and the UN80 Initiative

Document A79/24

20.2 Communications of the United Nations Secretary-General as depositary of the Constitution of the World Health Organization

Documents A79/25 and EB158/2025/REC/1, decision EB158(12)

21. Agreements with intergovernmental organizations [if any]

22. Matters for information: progress reports

Document A79/26

A79/1 7

Provide health

A. Social participation for universal health coverage, health and well-being (resolution WHA77.2 (2024))

B. Increasing access to medical oxygen (resolution WHA76.3 (2023))

C. Public health dimension of the world drug problem (decision WHA75(20) (2022))

D. The global health sector strategies on, respectively, HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections (resolution WHA75.20 (2022))

E. Improving access to assistive technology (resolution WHA71.8 (2018))

F. Eradication of dracunculiasis (resolutions WHA64.16 (2011) and WHA78.14 (2025))

G. Reproductive health: strategy to accelerate progress towards the attainment of international development goals and targets (resolution WHA57.12 (2004))

H. Availability, safety and quality of blood products (decision WHA75(17) (2022))

I. WHO strategy on research for health (resolution WHA63.21 (2010))

J. Global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property (resolution WHA75.14 (2022))

Protect health

K. Strengthening laboratory biological risk management (resolution WHA77.7 (2024))

L. Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits (resolution WHA64.5 (2011))

M. Smallpox eradication: destruction of variola virus stocks (resolution WHA60.1 (2007))

Promote health

N. Reducing public health risks associated with the sale of live wild animals of mammalian species in traditional food markets – infection prevention and control (decision WHA75(23) (2022))

O. WHO global strategy for food safety (decision WHA75(22) (2022))

P. Accelerating efforts for preventing micronutrient deficiencies and their consequences, including spina bifida and other neural tube defects, through safe and effective food fortification (resolution WHA76.19 (2023))

Q. Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020–2030 (decision WHA73(12) (2020))

Power and performance

R. Strategy for integrating gender analysis and actions into the work of WHO (resolution WHA60.25 (2007))

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Preliminary daily timetable for the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly

May 2026 Plenary Committee A Committee B Other

Monday 18

09:00 High-level welcome1

1. Opening of the Health Assembly

1.1 Appointment of the Committee on Credentials

1.2 Election of the President

1.3 Election of the five Vice-Presidents, the Chairs of the main committees, and establishment of the General Committee

–

–

–

–

–

–

Upon closure of the plenary

– – – General Committee

14:30 – Presidential address

1.4 Adoption of the agenda and allocation of items to the main committees

2. Report of the Executive Board on its 157th and 158th sessions

3. Address by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General

– – –

– General discussion Upon commencement of the General discussion

10. Opening of the Committee

– –

Protect health

13. Public Health emergencies: preparedness and response

Provide health

11. Recommitting to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination

12. Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

1 This will include item 4, Invited speaker(s).

Preliminary daily timetable for the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly 2

May 2026 Plenary Committee A Committee B Other

Tuesday 19

09:00 3. Address by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General

– General discussion (continued)

Protect health

13. Public Health emergencies: preparedness and response (continued)

14. Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

– –

14:00 – – Committee on Credentials

14:30 3. Address by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General

– General discussion (continued)

– –

Wednesday 20

09:00 – Report of the Committee on Credentials

5. Admission of new Members and Associate Members [if any]

7. Awards

3. Address by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General

– General discussion (continued)

Protect health

14. Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

–

– –

14:30 Provide health

12. Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board (continued)

16. Opening of the Committee

Power and performance

18. Review and update on matters considered by the Executive Board and the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board

17. Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan

17:30 – – – General Committee (list for election Executive Board)

Preliminary daily timetable for the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly 3

May 2026 Plenary Committee A Committee B Other

Thursday 21

09:00 and 14:30

– Provide health

12. Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board (continued)

Promote health

15. Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

Power and performance

18. Review and update on matters considered by the Executive Board and the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board (continued)

–

Friday 22

09:00 and 14:30

6. Executive Board: election Promote health

15. Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board (continued)

19. Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee

20. Collaboration within the United Nations system and with other intergovernmental organizations

21. Agreements with intergovernmental organizations [if any]

22. Matters for information: progress reports

–

Saturday 23

09:00 and 14:30

– Finalization of resolutions/decisions and reports

– Finalization of resolutions/decisions and reports

8. Reports of the main committees

9. Closure of the Health Assembly

–

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