The Philippines is set to be the President-nominee of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) to be held in Geneva, Switzerland in May 2025.

This is after the 75th Regional Committee Meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Western Pacific where member states in attendance gained consensus to nominate the Philippines.

“Filipinos are recognized as bridge-builders in the international community. Our nomination by the Western Pacific Member States as WHA78 President is a recognition of our collective contribution and leadership in international health,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a news release Thursday.

“Thank you to our neighbors in the Western Pacific for the trust and confidence,” he said.

The nomination is considered historic being the first time that the Philippines will be the President of the assembly since the foundation of the WHO in 1948.

The WHA is the highest decision-making body of the WHO. It is attended by delegations from all 194 WHO member states, 37 countries and areas in the Western Pacific.

It determines the policies of the Organization; appoints the director-general; supervises financial policies; and reviews and approves the proposed programme budget. It is held annually in Geneva.

Its officers are formally elected by acclamation at the start of each session in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the WHA.

The President oversees the conduct of the WHA and guides the Assembly in its critical discussions and decisions on global health policies and initiatives.

The President may appoint the five vice presidents to act in its place during meetings or parts thereof. The vice presidents can also be selected by lot at the session where the election takes place.

Member States traditionally elect a President from each of the six WHO regions — Western Pacific, South East Asia, Africa, Americas, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean — rotating every year.

The Philippines hosts the WHO Regional Office in the Western Pacific.

The last time a WHA President came from the Western Pacific was in 2019, from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

The Philippines aims to further emphasize the importance of resilient health systems and international cooperation in the face of global health challenges through the leadership in the WHA. (PNA)