MINISTER FOR HEALTH MR ONG YE KUNG TO ATTEND 76TH WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health, will lead the Singapore delegation to the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland from 20 to 23 May 2023.

2. The World Health Assembly is the World Health Organization’s (WHO) highest decision-making body. Its annual meeting sets out WHO’s policy for the year ahead. Attendees include Health Ministers from WHO Member States, WHO Director-General, Regional-Directors of the six WHO Regions, and senior officials from Member States and WHO.

3. The theme for this year’s World Health Assembly is “WHO at 75: Saving lives, driving health for all”. It will discuss key public health issues including:

a. Reorientation of health systems to primary health care as a resilient foundation for universal health coverage;

b. Prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and mental health; and

c. Strengthening of pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.

4. Mr Ong will deliver remarks during the World Health Assembly Plenary Address. He will be speaking and chairing the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing discussion co-supported by the US National Academy of Medicine and WHO. He will also be participating at the panel discussions on regionalised vaccine manufacturing co-supported by the World Economic Forum, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and US National Academy of Science. He will also be part of the Global Launch of the Healthy Ageing and Prevention Index organised by the UK International Longevity Centre.

5. Mr Ong will meet with senior WHO officials and his foreign counterparts during his visit. He will be accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Health.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

19 MAY 2023