The 78th session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Regional Committee commenced on October 13, 2025, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where health leaders from the region reaffirmed their commitment to creating a healthier, more equitable, and resilient environment amidst ongoing global health challenges, reports 24brussels.

This three-day session, hosting decision-makers from various member states, serves as the governing body meeting of the WHO in the region. The event was inaugurated by Sri Lanka’s Parliament Speaker, Jagath Wickramaratne, with notable addresses from WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Health and Mass Media, Nalinda Jayatissa.

Dr. Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge of WHO South-East Asia, emphasized the need for enhancing global health security and collaborative efforts among member states. During her address, she highlighted the importance of WHO’s revised International Health Regulations and the historic Pandemic Agreement, stating that the organization is restructuring to be “leaner, more agile and responsive” to the changing health needs of its member countries.

“In a world of complex crises, shifting global health dynamics, and tightening fiscal space, WHO is aiming at being more focused, effective, and accountable to the people we serve… We will harness innovation, strengthen leadership, and deliver measurable outcomes — guided by one principle: health for all, by all,” Dr. Boehme declared.

A ministerial round table on healthy ageing is a key feature of the session, as projections estimate that by 2050, one in five individuals in the region will be over 60 years old. Dr. Boehme referred to this demographic shift as both “a triumph of development and a challenge”, calling for a reimagining of health systems, particularly within primary care.

The Committee will also tackle the increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases, focusing on measures to combat tobacco use, which remains the leading cause of preventable death in the region. With over 280 million smokeless tobacco users and approximately 11 million adolescent tobacco users, discussions will address regulatory measures pertaining to smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and areca nuts.

Another significant agenda item is the expansion of the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF), which has provided support for 49 emergencies across 10 member states since its inception in 2008. The Fund’s mandate has now been extended to include emergency preparedness.

Antimicrobial resistance will also be a focal point, with member states expected to align regional policy actions with global strategies to combat this growing threat. “Our systems must be ready—not just to treat illness, but to accompany people through life—with prevention, with continuity, and with care that starts in the community,” Dr. Boehme remarked, thanking member states for their ongoing commitment to health promotion, provision, and protection throughout the region.

The WHO South-East Asia Region consists of 10 countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.