Minister for Health Mr Ong Ye Kung will lead the Singapore delegation for the 75th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland from 22 to 26 May 2022. At the Assembly, Singapore will be tabling its resolution Strengthening Health Emergency Preparedness and Response in Cities and Urban Settings.
2. Singapore urges Member States to invest in urban health emergency preparedness, and to take a whole-of-government and multi-sectoral approach in planning and response. As a city-state deeply aware of the challenges that infectious threats bring to urban settings, Singapore has been working with the World Health Organization (WHO) on the area of preparedness in cities and urban settings even before COVID-19. The adoption of Singapore’s resolution, which is its first at the World Health Assembly, will signal Member States’ support for the implementation of the WHO Framework for Strengthening Health Emergency Preparedness in Cities and Urban Settings, which was launched in January 2022 by Singapore and the WHO.
3. The World Health Assembly is WHO’s highest decision-making body. Held annually, it sets out WHO’s policy and approves its budget. 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. The theme for this year’s World Health Assembly is ‘Health for Peace, Peace for Health’.
4. This year, the World Health Assembly will discuss key public health issues including:
a. Paradigm shift towards preventive care and health promotion;
b. Reorientation of health systems towards primary health care as the foundation of universal health coverage; and
c. Health emergency preparedness, response and resilience, including in cities and urban settings.
5. Mr Ong will also meet with WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other counterparts during the visit. He will be accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Health.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
20 MAY 2022