Parliamentarians, Member State representatives, civil society and partners convened at the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly Global Parliamentary Forum to strengthen parliamentary leadership in advancing implementation of the WHO Pandemic Agreement and sustainable financing for health.

Convened by WHO and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Global Parliamentary Forum – first launched at last year’s Assembly – is now established as an annual platform for parliamentary engagement at the heart of the Assembly. It was established under the leadership of WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who recognized the critical role of parliamentarians in advancing health priorities at the national level and championed the creation of a dedicated parliamentary platform within the World Health Assembly.

Held under the theme “From Commitment to Action: Advancing Parliamentary Leadership for the WHO Pandemic Agreement Implementation and Sustainable Financing for Health,” the Forum was co-chaired by Mr Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary-General, and Dr Zeyana Hamid, Vice-Chairperson of the Committee for Health and HIV Affairs of the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania. Both underscored the critical role of parliaments in translating global commitments into concrete action through legislation, policymaking, oversight and budgetary decisions.