All For Health Health For All WHO 1717264537
All For Health Health For All WHO 1717264537
All For Health Health For All WHO 1717264537
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Contents
Acknowledgements5
Abbreviations6
Summary8
References46
Acknowledgements
WHO gratefully acknowledges the contributions all its Member States through fully flexible assessed
contributions which have funded this report. The report is the product of an iterative development
process with Member States and partners. We acknowledge the valuable contributions of experts
in disease modelling both within the WHO Secretariat and from modelling consortia and leading
academic experts including members of the Lancet Commission on Investing in Health. Funding was
received from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support additional modelling required for the
complete estimate of lives saved.
6 All for Health, Health for All - Investment case 2025--2028
Abbreviations
Africa CDC Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
IP Intellectual property
MS Member State
PQ Prequalification
TB Tuberculosis
Over the past 5 years, the Secretariat of the World and partners across the wide domain of health
Health Organization (WHO) has helped countries will have saved at least 40 million lives. Through
to apply the latest science and health practice WHO’s work, tangible results will be achieved to
with measurable results: 1.2 billion people promote, provide and protect health, for example
are living healthier lives through reduced risks by improving access to insulin and basic health
and healthier environments; nearly 430 million care for diabetes, creating 10 000 climate- and
more people are covered by essential health shock-resilient health facilities, training 3.2
services without financial hardship; and 600 million more health workers and detecting
million people are better protected from health threats through analysis of more than 9 million
emergencies. These results are achieved with an pieces of surveillance information monthly.
annual budget of US$ 2.75 billion – or less than
US$ 0.35 per person. At the organizational level, the most
comprehensive transformation exercise in
But the journey towards achieving the health- WHO’s history has renewed the Organization’s
related Sustainable Development Goals by capacity to focus on science, data and results,
2030 is far from over. With challenges such and provide more efficient and tailored support
as climate change, shifting demographics to countries. The role of the Chief Scientist
and epidemiology, and the constant threat of has been established, data divisions have
outbreaks and conflicts, bold, comprehensive been unified and global business functions
solutions are needed now more than ever. streamlined to deliver more efficiency. Country
offices have more resources and delegated
With its participatory governance structure authority, together with strengthened
including all 194 Member States, shared accountability and more effective reporting.
priorities, and active partnerships with health
coalitions and civil society, WHO is central to But to deliver on this strategy, WHO needs to be
creating a healthier future for all. Only WHO predictably and sustainably financed. The total
possesses the reach and legitimacy to set and budget need for the 4-year GPW14 is US$ 11.1
implement evidence-based global standards for billion. Member States have set a path to increase
health; WHO plays a leading role in mobilizing assessed contributions that will cover US$ 4
equitable access to life-saving technologies, billion of this budget. This leaves a WHO funding
fortifying health systems worldwide; and only gap of US$ 7.1 billion, which needs to be filled
WHO has the coordinating role for global early- through voluntary contributions.
warning systems to detect outbreaks. WHO’s
new strategy for 2025–2028, the 14th General Investment in WHO is an investment in humanity,
Programme of Work (GPW14), is a co-creation of an investment that makes the world a healthier,
all Member States and partners facilitated by the fairer and safer place.
WHO Secretariat that will accelerate progress in
health and well-being for everyone, everywhere. It is an investment that moves us all closer to the
vision of health for all.
By 2028 through the GPW14, WHO will have
realized further major health gains: the combined But to turn this vision into reality, we need
efforts of WHO together with Member States your support.
40 million
additional lives from actions taken
between 2025 and 2028
Summary 11
Through its role in health stewardship, development of public health goods and in-country technical support,
WHO will support Member States to accelerate towards the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals
Climate
change
7.5
million
Health
emergencies b
Risk factors a
4.0
and antimicrobial
resistance
8.5
million
million
>40
million
Maternal and
child health lives saved1 Infectious
diseases
6.3
million
5
million
Noncommunicable
Vaccination
4.5
diseases
million
6.5
million
a
Includes tobacco, alcohol, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet
b
Includes preparedness and prevention of high-threat outbreaks, including for example measles, yellow fever, meningitis and the risk of a pandemic event
Working with Member States and partners, WHO is extending its billion targets to promote good health,
provide health services without financial hardship and protect people from health emergencies with a focus
on eventually reaching the world’s population under each target, to achieve the goal of health for all.
To achieve these goals, Member States need a strong WHO Secretariat to:
Promote good health Provide services through the Protect the world from
and well-being for all primary health care approach health emergencies
Poison centre worker rushes to deliver an antidote by ambulance in Bangkok, Thailand. © WHO / Blink Media - Amanda Mustard
14 All for Health, Health for All - Investment case 2025--2028
1 What WHO
will deliver in
2025–2028
What WHO will deliver in 2025–2028 15
40
At least
Addressing today‘s complex health
challenges demands multisectoral action.
Noncommunicable diseases cause more than
half of global mortality, requiring upstream
interventions in social, behavioural and million
environmental areas. Climate change further
increases health risks, underscoring the lives will be saved globally
need for coordinated global governance and over the next 4 years
16 All for Health, Health for All - Investment case 2025--2028
Through the collective efforts of WHO, Member The rate of return on investing in WHO was
States and partners, we can save at least 40 calculated taking the estimated 40 million lives
million additional lives globally over the next saved and using a conservative assessment of the
four years.1 portion of those benefits that can be attributed
to the actions of WHO.3 The estimates have been
The economic case for investment in WHO is developed in close consultation with partners,
strong. For every US$1 invested in WHO, health including the Lancet Commission on Investing in
gains valued at US$ 35 are produced.2 Health, and progress will be monitored with the
support of leading academic partners.
The health impact and return on investment
were estimated based on collaborative modeling
efforts drawing from more than 50 academic
modeling groups and consortia. These estimates
35
were combined across programmes, taking
account of comorbidities and overlaps. The
WHO Secretariat's contribution to lives saved
US$
is made through developing guidelines and
recommending interventions, approving
technologies, supporting Member States
to pass these into policy and supporting
implementation. This estimate does not take
value of health gains
account of a scenario where existing efforts produced for every US$1
from partners would backslide. invested in WHO
Fig. 1
Half of all health outcomes are shaped by interventions at the country level to build a
where people are born, grow, work and age, healthier, safer and more sustainable world for
and these conditions are startlingly unequal. everyone, everywhere.
WHO is championing efforts to promote and
sustain health and well-being at all ages, for In 2025–2028, WHO will increase its focus on
all people, by addressing health determinants multisectoral action on the root causes of health
in a coordinated way to translate global inequities. WHO’s Special Initiative for Action
commitments into local action. on Social Determinants of Health for Advancing
Health Equity will work to integrate health
Over the 4 four years, WHO will seek to achieve equity into the social and economic policy
healthier populations by focusing on stronger platforms of at least eight countries. By scaling
prevention and promotion strategies, and up policies, such as social protection coverage,
effective implementation of evidence-based this partnership aims to improve the social
determinants of health for at least 20 million
1.2
people experiencing disadvantage in these
countries by 2028.
billion
Social health investments, such as fostering social
connections, have been overlooked and can benefit
people of all ages. As population demographics
change and more older people need access to
more people now lead healthier lives, services, WHO is working with countries to build
largely due to better indoor air quality and long-term care systems by using available public
access to water, sanitation and hygiene and private resources, including the policies,
Box 1
Fig. 2
systems and infrastructure for universal long-term WHO’s work to address health risk
care coverage and financial protection for older factors – tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol,
adults. WHO will support urban governance for obesity, physical inactivity and unhealthy
health and well-being through initiatives that diets – will continue unabated. Fig. 2 highlights
strengthen participatory processes in decision- some of the key areas and targets of WHO’s work
making with multisectoral action and civil society to tackle health risk factors and determinants
engagement at the local level. between 2025 and 2028.
Elderly residents exercise, assisted by a physical therapist, at Bishkek social center, Kyrgyzstan. © WHO / Arete / Maxime Fossat
What WHO will deliver in 2025–2028 21
Box 2
Since 2018, Pakistan has made significant advances Islamabad and Charsadda. The initiative catalysed the
towards universal health coverage (UHC), yet nearly half refurbishment and equipping of 15 health facilities,
the population remains underserved. In 2021, under the enhanced the skills of health care workers in patient
Government’s leadership, WHO brought together eight safety and service delivery, improved referral systems,
partners within the SDG3 Global Action Plan for Healthy and increased community engagement. Underpinned by
Lives and Well-being for All to collaborate on primary a robust theory of change and vigilant monitoring, the
health care by creating a foundation to accelerate initiative led to significant health service enhancements
progress towards UHC. This partnership delivered the and intersectoral cooperation. This successful model is
Family Practice Approach, with the cornerstone being now ready for expansion across Pakistan.
the new UHC benefit package which was piloted in
22 All for Health, Health for All - Investment case 2025--2028
430
consensus among Member States and partners at
the Fifth Global Forum on Human Resources for
Health in 2022. WHO will support Member States
Box 3
Remarkable progress has been made in tackling many the market for better access to human papillomavirus
communicable diseases. The number of people dying tests and integrative approach; and support countries to
from causes related to human immunodeficiency develop efficient, effective and equitable approaches to
virus (HIV) infections is 70% lower than its peak 20 multidisease elimination.
years ago. Tuberculosis death rates declined 18%
between 2015 and 2022. WHO has targeted more than By 2028, another 84 countries could reach the WHO targets
30 communicable diseases for elimination, and 25 for disease elimination. These targets include elimination
countries have eliminated at least one tropical disease of transmission (e.g. malaria and some neglected topical
over the past 5 years. diseases) and elimination of a public health problem,
such as for cervical cancer transmission pathways (e.g.
Over the coming 4 years, WHO will accelerate efforts mother-to-child transmission of HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis
to control, eliminate and eradicate diseases. The and Chagas disease), or an acute public health event
Organization will: align partners around the scale-up (e.g. outbreaks of meningitis, mpox and hepatitis E or
of equitable access to malaria vaccines and dual- A). Twenty-nine countries could achieve two or more
active ingredient mosquito nets; support research and elimination targets. Many more will make measurable
development for a new tuberculosis vaccine through progress on the path towards longer-term elimination
the tuberculosis vaccine accelerator council; implement goals. A multidisease elimination approach facilitated by
the research and development blueprint for neglected WHO will result in less fragmentation, with convergence
tropical diseases; apply the successful HIV self-testing around common platforms to deliver essential services
model to other disease areas including sexually and interventions, which will lead to greater efficiency,
transmitted infections, and hepatitis B and C; shape effectiveness and equity in elimination efforts.
What WHO will deliver in 2025–2028 23
Box 4
As many as one in eight people worldwide lives with a across all six WHO regions. The goal of the initiative
mental health condition and 700 000 people die each is to introduce new services at the primary and
year from suicide. Yet, only a small portion of these secondary levels of health care, often in districts
people can access appropriate care and support. WHO with little or no mental health service capacity. An
is catalysing efforts to close this treatment and service estimated 52 million people now have access to newly
gap. The Organization and partners have developed available local services. These services are highly cost-
global and regional action plans and a comprehensive effective: for every US$ 1 million spent, more than 2
body of information, evidence and guidance to support million people have access to newly available mental
country-level implementation of mental health health services in their communities – a per person
strategies. However, implementation progress to date cost of less than US$ 0.50. In the next 4 years, the
has been patchy and far short of the goal to increase special initiative will be extended to more countries
service coverage globally by 2030. and 24 countries with plans to strengthen their mental
health surveillance systems will be supported to
WHO’s Special Initiative for Mental Health will boost generate the data needed to accurately monitor and
progress and is already operational in nine countries report service coverage.
millions of health workers and access to health services will continue over the
coming 4 years (Fig. 2).
policy-makers worldwide
This work will include high-level political
The WHO Academy Mass Casualty Management learning programme ran its first simulation advocacy for the most important health
activity in a custom-built simulation centre in Lyon, France. © WHO / Eric Leroux priorities, issuing leading normative guidance,
24 All for Health, Health for All - Investment case 2025--2028
providing direct technical support to Member implementation research. For example, WHO’s
States, facilitating the recommendation, cervical cancer elimination initiative will support
prequalification, donation and procurement Member States to reach the 90–70–90 targets
of medicines, developing new service-delivery for the percentage of girls vaccinated, women
models, using digitalization, health literacy screened and women treated by 2030 through a
and self-management, and strengthening PHC-oriented approach.
monitoring and evaluation, as well as
Key to guaranteeing access to services is
ensuring an integrated delivery of services
to promote health, and prevent, detect and
treat diseases and provide rehabilitation
“One of the most pressing issues on from them across the life course through a
the continent of Africa is the education, PHC approach. WHO’s guidance on disease-
specific interventions is oriented towards this
employment and retention of a skilled integration. To this end, WHO issues guidance
health workforce to meet the needs of for primary care-based interventions and
supports countries towards multidisease
the growing population and improve the elimination, while recognizing that higher-
resilience of the health system against level care, such as for cancer, is a vital part of
robust PHC-oriented health systems. This work
future shocks” will continue over 2025–2028 so that these
Dr Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Uganda ambitions become a reality for Member States.
Box 5
Women’s health: bridging the gender health gap and overcoming entrenched
inadequate care
Some 75 million years of life are lost each year due to a stalwart advocate globally for women’s health. This
the gender health gap8. Gender inequality drives health includes supporting countries to: improve reporting and
disparities, with women facing unique health challenges use of sex disaggregated data; conduct gender analysis;
including to receiving adequate care. and identify and address all conditions that differently or
disproportionately affect women.
Since 2018, WHO has increased attention to these
challenges by applying a gender lens to all its work. The Working closely with the United Nations Population
Director-General has also prioritized the leading killers of Fund and United Nations Children’s Fund, the Secretariat
women, including through a call to action to eliminate will also intensify technical support to 42 high-burden
cervical cancer, which has led to the introduction of the countries to reduce maternal and newborn mortality,
human papillomavirus vaccine in 58 countries since 2020. and, under the WHO Family Planning Accelerator Plus
Project, support countries to implement evidence-based,
Despite these advances, challenges remain. Particularly gender-responsive family planning interventions. The
worrying is the lack of progress in reducing maternal Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination will
mortality, violence against women and breast cancer. scale up the three pillars for cervical cancer elimination,
including increasing coverage of human papillomavirus
Over the coming 4 years, WHO will continue to apply a vaccination and screening and treatment of women
gender lens across the Secretariat’s work and serve as based on the latest WHO guidance.
What WHO will deliver in 2025–2028 25
Fig. 3
Up to
42 90 million
high burden
257 million
additional vaccines
countries
will reduce child
additional people
treated through
intensified technical
42 countries 25 countries
supporting national
delivered working with mortality through a support to the highest scale-up of HEARTS will roll out WHO
Immunization Agenda WHO core package of tuberculosis burden to diagnose and emergency care training
2030 partners. essential services. countries. manage hypertension. across 750 facilities.
“We cannot create a world free of poverty or make progress to address inequality
without tackling gaps in health care. Quality, affordable health care remains
out of reach for too many in developing countries which severely impacts
their development and well-being. The World Bank Group is committed to the
ambition of health for all, which underpins our goal of reaching 1.5 billion people
with health services by 2030. We need effective partnerships and a strong WHO
to make progress on the global health agenda, so together we can scale up what
works and ensure that health is not just a promise, but a reality for everyone.”
Ajay Banga, President, World Bank Group
26 All for Health, Health for All - Investment case 2025--2028
Since 2018, WHO‘s efforts have resulted in 600 The world is experiencing an unprecedented
million more people being better protected from increase in global health emergencies,
health emergencies. This significant progress driven by factors such as climate change,
was driven by expanded vaccination coverage, conflicts and the expanding interface between
enhanced preparedness and quicker responses human and animal habitats. Notably, about
to emerging threats. These accomplishments 75% of new infectious diseases originate in
underscore WHO‘s vital role in reinforcing global animals, highlighting the urgent need for
health security. a comprehensive One Health approach to
protect populations. The urgency to address
The COVID-19 pandemic has sharply highlighted these complex, interconnected threats was
the urgent need for enhanced equity, resilience a focus at the United Nations (UN) High-
and global coordination in preventing and Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention,
responding to health emergencies. Over the Preparedness and Response in 2023.
next 4 years, WHO will continue this work with
Member States. The ongoing negotiations for the WHO is at the forefront of enhancing global
pandemic agreement and the amendments to health security, with its expertise in surveillance,
the International Health Regulations 2005 (IHR safe and scalable care, rapid access to medical
(2005)) are set to play a pivotal role in forging a countermeasures and emergency coordination
more effective and equitable global framework for for protecting vulnerable communities and
pandemic preparedness, response and recovery. enabling swift responses to crises. Both a clear
Spearheaded by Member States and facilitated opportunity and a moral imperative exist to
by WHO, these initiatives aim to secure crucial bolster emergency preparedness systems
investments, accelerate research and development and capabilities. Strengthening these areas
of vaccines and treatments, and expand global is vital to significantly reduce the risk of future
manufacturing capacities through technology pandemics and safeguard global health and
transfer and voluntary licensing. Achieving the development gains.
objectives of these initiatives is central to extending
protection against health emergencies to a Central to WHO’s strategy is supporting countries
projected total of 7 billion people. at risk in building resilient health systems that
600
act as the first line of defence against emerging
threats. These systems must be adaptable to
specific local contexts and designed to handle
million
varied health threats effectively. This resilience
not only ensures uninterrupted care and
equitable access to essential treatments during
emergencies, but also protects the health and
more people are better protected from well-being of people in crisis zones, thereby
health emergencies as a result of WHO’s enhancing community readiness and overall
efforts since 2018 system robustness.
What WHO will deliver in 2025–2028 27
Box 6
Health care for displaced populations: ensuring access to leave no one behind
Displacement and migration are key determinants of health assistance in strengthening the delivery of essential health
and well-being, not only for internally displaced people, services, notably in humanitarian setting and health
refugees and migrants, but also for the populations in their systems, including through capacity-building and technical
communities and countries of destination, transit and origin. assistance to national programmes to improve access of
About 282 million people – 13% of whom are children – live migrants and refugees to comprehensive, good quality and
outside their country of birth, and 110 million people have culturally sensitive health services to accelerate progress
been forcibly displaced, including refugees, asylum-seekers towards universal health coverage. Furthermore, WHO will
and internally displaced people.9 WHO’s work has been advance the translation of research into evidence-based
guided by the WHO Global Action Plan on promoting the policy-making by implementing the Global research agenda
health of refugees and migrants, 2019–2030 and relevant on health, migration and displacement at regional and
regional frameworks and resolutions. national levels, and will provide support to 16 countries
hosting refugee and migrant populations. WHO support
WHO will continue to support Member States facing during 2025–2028 is expected to lead to a 25% increase in
these growing global challenges, specifically 41 countries the number of countries with policies that ensure equal
experiencing increasing migration, humanitarian access to essential and emergency health care for displaced
emergencies and internal displacement, as well as 42 people and a 25% decrease in these populations who do not
countries hosting refugees. These countries will receive have equal access.
Biochemists examine samples for antimicrobial resistance delivered to the laboratory at Malbrán Institute in Buenos Aires,
Argentina. © WHO / Sarah Pabst
Box 7
Only a concerted effort can hold and reverse the including young people, policy-makers and media, and
growing threat of Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), promote the voices of survivors of antimicrobial resistance
which already today causes more than 1 million direct to emphasize the impact of antimicrobial resistance
deaths and contributes to almost 5 million deaths every on lives and livelihoods; (iv) deliver a comprehensive
year. If antibiotics and other antimicrobials lose their approach to stewardship so that prescribed antibiotics
effectiveness, the cost to the global economy would be at limit the risk of the emergence of resistance; and (v) finalize
least US$ 1 trillion annually by 2030. Furthermore, modern and disseminate a package on how to implement the
medicine would cease to exist – a simple cut or sore could people-centred framework for antimicrobial resistance
prove life-threatening. into health systems. These activities will be delivered
through an integrated approach that will involve all
WHO tackles this challenge with multiple partners from both divisions and levels of WHO.
public and private sectors, and coordinates a One Health
approach across human and animal health and ecosystems Integrated surveillance across pathogens is a critical piece
to prevent antimicrobial resistance, working with the Food of WHOs work to monitor the emergence of drug resistance.
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, United Specifically, WHO will work to ensure that 1.5 million people
Nations Environment Programme and World Organisation with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis can access WHO’s
for Animal Health. A joint global plan provided the impetus recommended treatment, support digital technologies,
for 178 countries to develop national action plans on AMR, and expand access to WHO-recommended diagnostics and
underpinned by WHO’s core packages of the most effective drug-susceptibility tests, which will significantly improve
interventions. Yet only 27% of countries report that they treatment outcomes and save more lives. Enhanced
have the capacity to implement and monitor their plans and antimicrobial resistance surveillance for gonorrhoea is now
only 11% have dedicated funding in their national budgets. in place in 14 sentinel countries across the six WHO regions,
and an additional 73 countries are capable of tracking
Over the next 4 years, WHO will: (i) consolidate strategic the emergence and spread of resistance to the last-line
information systems to guide decision-making at the treatment for gonorrhoea as a result. This surveillance can
country level; (ii) support increased investment in research reduce the further development and spread of antimicrobial
and development, and improve equitable access by resistance and has the potential to avert 82 million
tackling barriers along the value chain; (iii) raise awareness untreated infections that could lead to 800 000 adverse
of antimicrobial resistance among key stakeholders sexual and reproductive health outcomes.
What WHO will deliver in 2025–2028 29
1.3.3 Save lives in humanitarian hubs, including Gaza, South Sudan and Ukraine,
settings making it one of the most purchased emergency
kits globally.
WHO’s collaborative efforts with countries
substantially enhance health care access during Over the next 4 years, WHO is committed to
emergencies, benefiting millions. As a vital continuing its support for health services
provider of last resort and lead of the Global to more than 150 million people across 30
Health Cluster, WHO works in conflict and countries, including facilitating 40 million PHC
disaster areas, partnering with humanitarian visits annually. WHO‘s extensive global presence
organizations to deliver essential supplies and and partnerships strengthen local response
services and cater to the needs of affected capabilities, ensuring that vital assistance reaches
communities. For example, in the past 2 years, people in dire need.
WHO has provided scaled-up mental health
and psychosocial support services to 2 million
4 500
people in the Syrian Arab Republic and Türkiye
after the 2023 earthquakes and deployed experts
in mental health and psychosocial support to
12 complex emergency countries including
Ukraine. Additionally, more than 142 000
noncommunicable disease and mental health
emergency kits developed by WHO have been
distributed to 28 countries affected by conflicts potential risks are identified
and natural disasters and placed in humanitarian each month
In response to a cholera outbreak in Sudan, WHO staff monitor water quality at a site hosting displaced families. ©️ WHO / Ala Kheir
30 All for Health, Health for All - Investment case 2025--2028
2 Transforming
for impact
Transforming for impact 31
“WHO is vital in its support to countries to tropical diseases, tuberculosis, obesity, pathogen
surveillance, antimicrobial resistance, cancer
direct their health efforts to have the greatest and mental health, digital health and artificial
impact. Parliamentarians across the world are intelligence, and climate change. In addition,
WHO’s engagement in high-level multilateral
united in their acknowledgement of the ways partnerships has increased.
WHO serves the people.”
Since 2021, WHO has been implementing
Martin Chungong, Secretary-General, Inter-Parliamentary Union
and reporting on initiatives to enhance the
Organization’s performance and to further
strengthen its accountability, budgetary,
Introduced in 2018, the transformation agenda programmatic, finance and governance
is WHO‘s most ambitious reform in its 75-year systems and processes, as well as to
history. The main aim of the agenda is to substantially increase its transparency. These
modernize WHO, ensuring seamless delivery efforts have also improved efficiency and
of measures designed to have a public health effectiveness in administration, finance,
impact at the country level. The agenda commits human resources and procurement, and
all levels of the organization to transparent saved costs. In 2022, 95 efficiency gains worth
prioritization of issues guided by the needs nearly US$ 150 million were identified and
of Member States. Implementing the reforms implemented. By investing in modernizing
has been a high priority for the Secretariat, its enterprise resource planning by moving
and it has paid close attention to ensuring to the more modern business management
coherence across these reforms to ensure system, launching in 2024, the Secretariat
efficiency, sustainability and impact (Fig. 4). will drive future efficiencies through the
New capabilities, including the Chief Scientist optimization and automation of business
and data divisions, have driven a renewed processes. Similarly, WHO has led all UN
focus on science and data across many areas agencies in efforts to develop, improve
of WHO’s work, including malaria, neglected and implement systems to prevent and
Fig. 4
90%
2021-2022 Management Response Plan-Preventing and Responding to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
93%
84%
91%
32 All for Health, Health for All - Investment case 2025--2028
WHO’s unique
value:
• Global Health
Stewardship
• WHO Public Goods
• Country Support
Box 8
In a landmark development aimed at investing in alignment of financing decisions with national health
and strengthening essential, and climate- and crisis- priorities and strategies under a one-country, one-plan
resilient primary health care services, four multilateral approach. The platform will be governed by a steering
development banks have joined with WHO to launch the committee with representatives from the four banks,
Health Impact Investment Platform. with WHO hosting the secretariat and operational
functions.
The platform will raise an initial €1.5 billion of funding to
be made available to low- and middle-income countries It is expected to be fully operational by 2025.
as concessional loans and grants to expand the reach
and scope of their primary health care services, By gathering all data and evidence related to
especially for the most vulnerable and underserved investments, the platform will de-risk investment and
populations and communities. leverage co-financing to increase the concessionality
of loans. This financing comes in addition to the more
The African Development Bank, European Investment than US$ 1 billion which WHO has leveraged since 2016
Bank, Islamic Development Bank, Asian Development for countries’ health sectors through its partnership
Bank and WHO founded the platform. WHO is the with the World Bank. Further partnerships will allow this
platform’s policy coordinator, responsible for ensuring platform to be scaled up.
800
WHO enables the work of key partners and
global health institutions such as Gavi, the
Global Fund and the Global Financing Facility,
philanthropy and the private sector at every
step of their value chain, by: identifying health
issues and the burden of disease and the
countries and communities most vulnerable; collaborating centres
supporting innovation in response strategies enhance the production
and validating effective responses; monitoring of global knowledge
Box 9
WHO and digital health: shaping health care for the 21st century and beyond
To meet the growing demand from countries for digital translations so that no one misses out on the benefits of
health solutions, WHO is expanding further into digital digital health.
health and innovation to future-proof and build resilience
of national and global health systems. An opportunity Digital health and innovation is essential to build resilient
exists to reimagine health through interconnected digital health systems and future-proof against pandemics and
systems to strengthen primary health care, universal other threats. Devastating as it was, the coronavirus
health coverage and routine health system functions. disease 2019 pandemic accelerated the adoption and
expansion of digital technologies and. WHO led digital
While 120 Member States have developed digital health innovation with our partners and collaborators.
health strategies, progress is unequal with important One example is the Global Digital Health Certification
gaps in infrastructure, gender inclusion and accessibility Network, which was launched with the European Union.
to digital services. In response, WHO launched This global health infrastructure currently connects
the Global Initiative on Digital Health to support 76 countries across all income levels and regions, and
transforming country strategies into action. With a enables people to digitally carry their verifiable health
focus on strengthening institutions, developing policy and immunization records or to benefit from cross-
and regulatory environments, and building capacity, border electronic prescriptions or telemedicine services.
this initiative promotes WHO’s norms and standards
and guidelines to facilitate the transformation of WHO is is providing leadership on artificial intelligence
health systems. (AI) by bringing together global experts to develop
the guidance document on the ethics and governance
While all WHO guidance and guidelines are freely of AI for health, which is among the the most
available, access remains a challenge for the people accessed resources in the WHO library. WHO is
who need them the most and WHO is creating access to committed to ensuring digitalization of health
real time updates and digital codes for easy language benefits everyone, everywhere.
Transforming for impact 35
WHO team in Dhaka is monitoring dengue data during the outbreak, Bangladesh. © WHO / Fabeha Monir
36 All for Health, Health for All - Investment case 2025--2028
Fig. 5
Science and research Intellectual property Manufacturing Global policy and regulation
and development and market access • High-quality • Strengthening of regulatory capacity
• Convening and catalyzing • Technology, knowledge manufacturing • Reliance:
science, horizon scanning transfer and licensing • Training and quality - guidelines and normative
• Pathogen, sample and • Target product profiles assurance functions
product sharing for research • Equitable access schemes • Regional production - WHO listed authorities
and multicentre trials - pre-qualification
1 2 3 4
7 6 5
Box 10
At regional level WHO’s presence serves as a vital hub organizations, continental organs such as the European
to promote collaboration among countries, facilitate Union Commission, the African Union Commission and
knowledge exchange, and catalyse regional and global Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, regional
action to improve health outcomes. The regional offices political groupings such as the Asia-Pacific Economic
work to implement WHO’s global health policies and Cooperation Forum and the Association of Southeast
programmes within their respective regions, adapting Asian Nations, and regional development banks such
these policies to suit the specific needs, priorities and as the Asian Development Bank, African Development
contexts of the countries they represent. And, just as they Bank, and others. WHO’s engagement with regional
respond to their own distinct contexts and tailor global partnerships takes a number of forms – from advocating
prescriptions to regional and national needs, they also for health at the political leadership level, collaborating on
play a role by aggregating and translating these national technical support to countries and leveraging financing
experiences to shape global perspectives. for investment in Member States’ health systems. During
the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, WHO also
WHO regional offices coordinate and align partnerships engaged actively through regional partnerships to support
between country governments, development partners countries’ responses, for example, in facilitating and
and public health institutions, and regional authorities, coordinating donations of vaccines. WHO has also played
Regional Economic Committees (for example South a key role in establishing and promoting political fora
African Development Community, Economic Community dedicated to advancing universal health coverage, such as
of West African States), private sector and civil society the Asia Pacific Parliamentarians Forum on Global Health.
products, for example, the model lists of essential solutions for data collection, analysis and
medicines and essential diagnostics list; and the presentation.
prequalification of these product so they can
be safely and rapidly used more widely. Current WHO‘s commitment to accessible health data
practice is to develop recommendations and assess prompted the development of the World Health
prequalification sequentially. A new method is Data Hub, which combines WHO‘s databases
now being adopted for all products to synchronize into one secure platform to provide countries,
processes and conduct them in parallel. The partners and the public with trustworthy health
target for the dual processes is 12 months from data. Over the next 4 years, WHO will enhance the
the start of the recommendation development to hub, with improved visualization, translation into
formally accepting a manufacturer’s dossier for other languages, and transparency of sources
prequalification assessment. At the same time, and real-time information on health risks, making
WHO will support Member States to identify and it a comprehensive platform for streamlined
clear roadblocks to adoption, and reduce the lag consultations and improved access to high-
time to access at the national level which currently quality data.
can be longer than 10 years.
As the world faces challenges to achieving the
2.2.2 Providing equitable access targets of the SDGs, accurate and timely data are
to the world’s health data needed to inform prioritization and set targets.
WHO uses country-specific, co-developed
Good data are essential for public health but quantifiable targets and a strategic plan to meet
many challenges exist at global, regional and country targets and monitoring and evaluating
country levels, including data fragmentation, progress supports progress. This approach will
insufficient access, weak health information be expanded in the next 4 years from 50 to 100
systems in countries and a lack of standardized countries. WHO’s annual flagship monitoring
38 All for Health, Health for All - Investment case 2025--2028
WHO staff reviews immunization records with health workers to support performance monitoring in Marsabit County Referral Hospital, Kenya. ©️ WHO / Billy Miaron
reports, such as the world health statistics reports the Global Heath Facilities Database, and support
and UHC monitoring reports, along with regularly ministries of health to maintain a georeferenced
updated global health estimates, give Member health facility master list to enable the world to
States better information to address health identify the location and functional capacities
challenges. To further support Member States to of all health facilities, with all low- and middle-
strengthen their health systems, WHO will finalize income countries covered by 2028.
Fig. 6
3 Invest in WHO
for a safer and
healthier world
Invest in WHO for a safer and healthier world 41
“Facing increased threats to global health, States. This source has declined in relative terms
and accounts for less than a quarter of WHO’s
the world needs to come together to ensure funding, with the remaining three quarters from
sustainable funding of WHO. The increase in voluntary contributions, mostly from a small
number of donors. The contributions are often in
assessed contributions and the investment the form of short-term grants, mostly earmarked
round are key steps to achieve this goal, and for specific programmes or offices. This means
that WHO writes more than 3000 reports to
fully supported by Norway.” donors each year and, given the short-term
Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister, Norway nature of the donations, cannot plan the long-
term work needed to meet its mandate.
Sustainable funding means funding which is Member States and bodies such as the
flexible, predictable and resilient (Table 1). Independent Expert Oversight Advisory
When WHO was founded, it received almost all Committee have long recognized that receiving
of its funding from assessed contributions that funding in this way creates challenges and risks
Member States pay predictably each year. These for WHO’s mission. The COVID-19 pandemic
contributions can be flexibly deployed and are, brought this issue into stark relief as the
by definition, from a broad base of Member Organization needed to respond flexibly and on
Table 1
Fig. 7
Perform
GPW 14
2025-2028
base budget10
US$ 11.1 bn
US$ 1bn
7.1
part of the increase has mainly been allocated
to strengthen preventing and responding to
sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment, and
an unprecedented scale. In 2022, Member States Full and sustainable financing of WHO’s budget
requested budget proposals which reflect the for 2025–2028 is needed for the GPW14 to
aspiration of increasing assessed contributions achieve its objective: contributing to saving more
to 50% of the base segment of the programme than 40 million additional lives, with a return on
budget by 2030. Based on the proposal, the investment of US$ 35 for every US$ 1 spent.
2022 World Health Assembly approved the first
increase in assessed contributions to allow WHO The total funding required for GPW14 is
to realize its goals. More than three quarters of US$ 11.1 billion, to be allocated across the
the increased flexible funding has been allocated WHO’s strategic objectives (Fig. 711), which
to regions and country offices. The remaining includes dedicated funding for strengthening:
Invest in WHO for a safer and healthier world 43
Sustainable financing is a prerequisite for US$ 4.1 billion of the total budget need for
the 4-year period of the GPW14. This leaves a
WHO to deliver on its constitutional mandate voluntary contribution funding need for 2025–
fully and effectively. The gradual increase in 2028 of at least US$ 7.1 billion (Fig. 7).
Assessed Contributions is one historic step The investment round is a unique opportunity
in this direction. In parallel to the increase to rally all stakeholders around the GPW14
to make the necessary progress to achieve
in AC, WHO requires greater predictability
the targets of SDG 3. It aims to safeguard the
and increased flexibility of Voluntary political commitment to global health and to
Contributions for the full four-year period. WHO, and seeks commitments to fully fund
GPW14 by backing the increase in assessed
Her Excellency Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health, Qatar contributions and providing voluntary
contributions to cover the US$ 7.1 billion
financing gap by the end of 2024.
country offices which will receive a greater share Contributions are also invited from philanthropic
of the funds; polio transition; and data and and private-sector partners to capitalize on their
innovation.12 strengths to bring better health to people and
maximize impact. This is in line with the WHO
In line with Member States’ decisions and Framework of Engagement with non-State Actors
requests, assessed contributions – including and working with the WHO Foundation.
anticipated future increases – will account for
A briefing on the processes related to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body at the side of the 154th session of the WHO Executive Board. ©️ WHO / Pierre Albouy
44 All for Health, Health for All - Investment case 2025--2028
4 Together
creating value
for all
Invest in WHO for a safer and healthier world 45
The global health goods created by WHO, with The world spends US$ 9 trillion a year on
support of the best experts and expertise around health. A fully financed WHO over 4 years
the world, benefit everyone – if they are available requires a 1000th of that amount. In return for
and applied everywhere. Making these goods that investment, the world gains authoritative,
available depends on WHO’s network of regions evidence-based norms and standards on
and country offices working with and supporting every facet of health, a framework for access to
national governments to implement globally agreed quality-assured health products, early warning of
standards and best health practice. In the words outbreaks, support to national health systems in
of the WHO Constitution, “Unequal development every country, and health workers and supplies
in different countries in the promotion of health on the ground when crises hit.
and control of diseases, especially communicable
disease, is a common danger.” This is as true today To deliver the results promised by WHO for
as it was more than 75 years ago. 2025–2028 requires its budget of US$ 11.1 billion
to be fully and flexibly funded. Member States
Over the coming 4 years, WHO will change the have responded to the call to action to establish
trajectory of global health. a stronger WHO by agreeing to increase their
annual assessed contributions. Now, we call on
It will identify the solutions that maximize climate, Member States and partners to fill the US$ 7.1
equity and health co-benefits. The escalating threat billion gap needed to achieve the GPW14 goals.
Together, we can
secure health for all.
46 All for Health, Health for All - Investment case 2025--2028
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Technical Report, Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies, Victoria University, Melbourne
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(https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/sustainable-development-goals-health-price-tag,
accessed 8 May 2024).
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(https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/02/womens-health-gap-healthcare/, accessed 8 May 2024).
9. UNHCR Global Trends 2022 [website] Copenhagen: United Nations High Comissioner for Refugees; 2022
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25/home
Annex 47
Annex
Voluntary contributions to base segment, revenue
*This contribution includes pass-through and/or other forms of allocations from other donors channeled to WHO through this partner.
Contributors do not include Gavi, GFATM, and UN contributors
50 All for Health, Health for All - Investment case 2025--2028