Elevating global health together

The World Health Summit (WHS) is an international meeting for experts to discuss the most important issues facing global health care. The 2022 event was co-hosted by WHO, with more than 300 speakers and over 40 WHO experts. In his opening ceremony speech, WHO Director- General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus drew links between the first summit in 2009, which was the year of the H1N1 pandemic and todayâ–™s backdrop of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He said that the theme of the 2022 WHS is â–˜taking global health to a new levelâ–™ through a shared response and commitment, a new global architecture and a new global approach. He explained that this requires a new agreement based on â–˜a common vision, a new global health architecture that is coherent and inclusive, and a new global approach that prioritizes promoting health and preventing disease, rather than only treating the sickâ–™. As such, a new agreement or global accord will be established, ensuring nations of the world commit to bringing this vision to life. Ghebreyesus said that this global accord will â–˜provide an essential framework and foundation for other initiatives to keep the world safeâ–™ and will be based on a shared commitment to solidarity and equity, with countries working together rather than in competition with each other. Indeed, the countries will be involved in negotiating the agreement and it will be implemented according to their respective national laws.