The ongoing war in Ukraine, emergency preparedness, strained health-care systems, climate change and environmental pollution, paired with the challenge of unlocking improved health and well-being for all, were among several topics on the agenda as the WHO Regional Office for Europe convened its first-ever Partners Forum in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 13–14 June. The 1.5-day forum brought together representatives from over 30 of WHO’s funding partner organizations, including delegates from Member States, international organizations, development banks and charitable organizations.
“We face numerous shared health challenges, from structural issues in our health systems to an ageing health workforce, to a mental health crisis, to the silent epidemic of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) – the biggest killer in our Region – as well as antimicrobial resistance, a burning issue everyone is talking about but doing little to address. So, permacrisis is our new reality and one to which we need to adjust,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, as he welcomed participants to the Forum. “Adding to this is the triple planetary crisis – climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss – part and parcel of this new world with already visible consequences for our economies and health. We cannot work on these challenges in isolation – partnerships are all the more crucial if we are to achieve solutions that benefit all.”
WHO strengthens focus on climate and health
Among the many themes linked to the permacrisis, such as building more resilient health systems and health partnerships during the Ukraine war, climate change was brought to the fore on the second day of the forum. WHO had the opportunity to hear from many partners during a special session led by the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, as WHO/Europe gears up for the 7th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health on 5–7 July in Budapest, Hungary.
“Climate change is probably the most cross-sectoral challenge there is. It’s a jigsaw puzzle, and WHO, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and WHO Member States all constitute their own piece in our joint fight against climate change,” said Mr Colin O’Hehir, Head of the Climate Change Unit at the Irish Department of Health, as he took part in the panel discussion focusing on the need for integrating climate change in the health agenda.
The role of youth in addressing health challenges was highlighted in the session dedicated to ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages.
“We need to amplify the voices of youth, the torchbearers of the 2030 Agenda. WHO/Europe’s Youth4Health initiative is a great example of joining youth and policy-makers to discuss better strategies for youth engagement in health,” said Neus Rosell, Youth Representative and Chair of the Executive Board of the Global Health Next Generation Network. “Young people are the experts on youth health. New generations can bring innovative ideas and solutions to the table, when given the space.”
Securing sustainable funding
Sustainable funding emerged as a key topic across many of the discussions. WHO relies on consistent and adequate financial resources to carry out its mandates effectively. However, securing sustainable funding that is not earmarked to cover a specific theme and is not time-bound remains a challenge.
“If the pandemic clarified one thing, it’s that we need a strong WHO now, more than ever. Whether it’s the fight against tuberculosis or our fight against NCDs, there is a huge discrepancy between how we praise WHO and how we equip WHO,” said Dr Björn Kümmel, Deputy Head of the Division of Global Health at the Federal Ministry of Health of Germany. “WHO is the leading and coordinating agency in global health, and we need to make sure it can meet the expectations placed on its shoulders.”
During the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly held last month, Member States agreed to the most ambitious budget to date, which includes a historic 20% increase in assessed contributions (effectively membership dues). The aim is to reach 50% of WHO’s budget by 2028–2029, or by 2030–2031 at the latest, up from the current 16% in 2020–2021.
“The WHO/Europe Partners Forum served as a reminder of the critical importance of collective action and highlighted the pressing need for sustained commitment from all stakeholders to advance global health in a rapidly evolving world,” said Robb Butler, WHO/Europe Executive Director, as he closed the Forum. “We thank all our donors, supporters and partners for enabling us to carry out our mandate across the 53 Member States in our Region, and we are counting on continued support all the more in the years to come.”