MINISTER FOR HEALTH MR ONG YE KUNG TO ATTEND THE 79TH WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

            Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, will lead the Singapore delegation to the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland from 17 to 20 May 2026.

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

3.           The theme for this year’s World Health Assembly is “Reshaping Global Health: A Shared Responsibility”. It will discuss key public health issues, including:

a. Strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness and response;

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

c. The reform of the global health architecture and the UN80 initiative.

4.           Mr Ong will be participating in two side events on global pandemic preparedness and response, one organised by the Communicable Diseases Agency Singapore (CDA), Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and the WHO, and another by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

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