G2H2 hosted panel discussion and workshop related to
the WHO Jubilee and the 76th World Health Assembly

The quest for Health for All in the year 2023
Assessments of the state of the World Health Organization

Geneva/Zoom, Saturday 20 May 2023

The 75th anniversary of the World Health Organization is celebrated this year with the old and still inspiring call for “Health for All”. According to WHO, the anniversary “is an opportunity to look back at public health successes that have improved quality of life during the last seven decades. It is also an opportunity to motivate action to tackle the health challenges of today  ̶  and tomorrow.” The Geneva Global Health Hub (G2H2) did the same, on the day before the opening of the 76th World Health Assembly, to complement WHO’s success stories with a critical look at the failures and shortcoming in the same period, and what is to be done.

In our panel discussion and workshop, we referred to the Preamble of the WHO Constitution (1948): This basic WHO document signed by all member states must still be seen as an inspiring and highly relevant reference to be rediscovered and used as a guide for the assessment of the present state of the quest for Health for All, the compliance of the World Health Organization and its member states with its Constitution and the perspectives for Health for All in the future.

Contact for enquiries:
Thomas Schwarz, G2H2 Secretariat
info@g2h2.org

Programme

9:30-11.30 hrs: Public panel discussion
The quest for Health for All in the year 2023
Geneva/Zoom

Welcome and introduction
By Baba Aye, Public Services International, G2H2 Co-President

2023: State of the quest for Health for All
Input by Sarojini N, Sama Resource Group for Women and Health
and People’s Health Movement

2023: State of the World Health Organization
Input by Anne-Emanuelle Birn, Professor, Global Development Studies and Global Health, University of Toronto and People’s Health Movement-Canada

What is to be done/demanded to achieve Health for All
Input by Marta Caminiti, Jyotsna Singh and Chiamo Seraphine, global health activists, PHM WHO Watch

How is WHO equipped today for promoting Health for All (?)
Input by Rüdiger Krech, Director, Department of Health Promotion, World Health Organization, as respondent

11.30-17.00 hrs: Civil society workshop
The quest for Health for All in the year 2023 (continued)
Geneva only

Track 1: Health as a “state of complete well-being”?
Referring to: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” (Preamble)

Track 2: A fundamental right to health?
Referring to: “The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.” (Preamble)

Track 3: Health, peace and cooperation?
Referring to: “The health of all peoples is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security and is dependent upon the fullest cooperation of individuals and States.” (Preamble)

Track 4: Health security and pandemic prevention?
Referring to: “Unequal development in different countries in the promotion of health and control of disease, especially communicable disease, is a common danger.” (Preamble)

Track 5: Nothing about us without us?
Referring to: “Informed opinion and active co-operation on the part of the public are of the utmost importance in the improvement of the health of the people”. (Preamble)

  • The documentation of group work can be ordered at the G2H2 secretariat
    (participants and G2H2 members only; the material is not yet ready for publication)
  • Workshop moderator: Thomas Schwarz, G2H2 Secretariat / Medicus Mundi International Network

References

WHO Constitution
WHO Jubilee
WHO Jubilee: Analysis
Five years ago…
  • 18 May 2018: G2H2 civil society workshop
    40 Years of Alma-Ata:     Translating “Health for All” into the Present and Future
    https://g2h2.org/posts/may-2018/  

The use of the “Lady Health” jubilee banner for our workshop was kindly agreed by the WHO Secretariat
The dark clouds in the background are added by the workshop organizers

…participants: Thanks in advance for sending us more/better pictures

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