WHO joined the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Istanbul, Türkiye (15–19 April 2026), bringing together more than 1500 delegates, including over 720 parliamentarians from 126 countries. The Assembly provided an important platform for dialogue and parliamentary diplomacy, as well as an opportunity to advance global health priorities and reinforce the role of parliaments in translating international commitments into national action.
Advancing the WHO Pandemic Agreement
WHO briefed the IPU Committee on Health on the WHO Pandemic Agreement, adopted in May 2025, including progress on negotiations of the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex. The Head of the Secretariat for the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement provided an update on the negotiations, noting that the mechanism aims to enable timely sharing of pathogen data and equitable access to health products. Discussions underscored that its conclusion will be critical to operationalizing the Agreement and strengthening global preparedness.
Participants also highlighted the central role of parliamentarians in ratification, legislative alignment, budgetary decisions and oversight to ensure effective implementation at country level. WHO and the IPU reaffirmed their commitment to supporting parliaments throughout this process.
Promoting sustainable health financing through health taxes
In the context of the Assembly, WHO and the IPU co-organized a workshop on sustainable health financing through health taxes, chaired by Dr Tasnim Atatrah, WHO Representative of Türkiye. Dr Inke Mathauer, Senior Health Financing Specialist, emphasized the need to strengthen domestic public financing, prioritize health in national budgets and reduce reliance on out-of-pocket spending.
Dr Chonlathan Visaruthvong, Technical Officer, highlighted health taxes as a cost-effective tool to reduce consumption of tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks – key risk factors for noncommunicable diseases – while generating additional revenue for health.
Parliamentarians shared country experiences and stressed the importance of political leadership in advancing legislation, safeguarding health budgets and translating evidence into policy.
WHO address during the General Debate
During the General Debate, held under the theme “Nurturing hope, securing peace, and ensuring justice for future generations,” WHO, represented by Mr Ludy Suryantoro, Head of Unit for Multisectoral Engagement for Health Security, emphasized the role of health as a driver of peace, development and multilateral cooperation.
“In a fractured world, health is not a cost. It is an investment in development, a platform for cooperation, and a foundation for peace, justice and human dignity,” he said.
The WHO Pandemic Agreement was highlighted as a concrete example of global solidarity, alongside a call for sustained investment in health and predictable financing for future generations.
Strengthening parliamentary engagement ahead of the Health Assembly
WHO invited parliamentarians to participate in the Global Parliamentary Forum at the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly in May 2026 in Geneva, an invitation announced by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. Co-organized with IPU, the Forum has become a key platform to connect global health discussions with action at national level, supporting legislation, budgeting and accountability. “Your participation is essential. It connects decisions taken in Geneva with action at the national level – through legislation, budgeting and accountability,” he said.
A moment of transition for the IPU
The Assembly also marked the election of a new IPU Secretary General. WHO reaffirmed its commitment to continued collaboration with IPU to advance shared priorities in health, equity and multilateral cooperation.
/health-and-multilateral-partnerships-(hmp)/152nd-ipu-assembly-health-taxes-workshop.tmb-768v.jpg?sfvrsn=6988cd72_1)
