World: WHO Western Pacific Member States agree to urgently accelerate progress on key health priorities

The 77th session of the Regional Committee reached unanimous consensus on hypertension control, tobacco control, immunization and artificial intelligence for health MANILA, 22 October 2026 — Health leaders from across the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region concluded their annual meeting here today after endorsing action plans to address lagging progress on hypertension, tobacco control and immunization, and adopting guidelines for the safe and effective use of artificial intelligence in health care. Health ministers and more than 200 other participants – representing 2. 2 billion people, over a quarter of the world population – gathered for the seventy-seventh session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific to address those four urgent issues and other pressing public health concerns. Tackling artificial intelligence, or AI, WHOMember States acknowledged that its significant potential to transform and strengthen health systems also carries risks. After careful consideration, the Regional Committee – WHO’s governing body in the Western Pacific – endorsed an action plan, Guidance for Responsible AI in Health in the Western Pacific Region, that countries can use in designing and rolling out AI safely and effectively in health systems according to specific country needs and capacities. Hypertension, which impacts one in three adults in the Region, is a silent killer, its symptoms often masked until severe complications arise, includingcardiovascular disease, stroke, disability and premature death. But detection, treatment and blood pressure control remain unacceptably low in many parts of the Western Pacific. The Regional Committee endorsed the Regional Plan for Accelerating Hypertension Control in the Western Pacific, which calls for integrating hypertension prevention and control as core functions of people-centred primary health care, with particular attention to equity and underserved populations. At a time when measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases are making a comeback, the Western Pacific Region is off track to achieve its immunization targets, particularly among children and underserved populations. Member States endorsed the Regional Plan to Accelerate Immunization Progress in the Western Pacific, which calls for countries to strengthen national immunization systems and services, with a view to identifying and addressing barriers to vaccination and ensuring equitable access to immunization for all – a particular challenge at a time of constrained national budgets and declining donor support. Turning to the final priority on the agenda, Member States endorsed Accelerating Progress towards the 2030 Tobacco Control Target in the Western Pacific Region, a plan to combat one of the leading public health challenges in the Region, which causes an estimated 3 million deaths annually. The acceleration plan addresses recent challenges including tobacco industry interference in policy-making and aggressive campaigns to market new products, including e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, to young people. Most countries in the Region are not on track to achieve the regional target of a 30% relative reduction in the prevalence of tobacco use by 2030. “While all these steps outlined across the four priority areas build on existing WHO frameworks, our Member States have recognized the urgency in addressing significant gaps and challenges undermining health and well-being, ” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “Not only have countries pledged to swiftly tackle these issues, but they have also committed to genuine collaboration regionwide, sharing experiences and lessons learnt through the convening power of WHO, a role we take very seriously, ” he added. Besides the four main agenda items, Member States also participated in a ministerial roundtable on exploring voluntary regional collaboration mechanisms to improve access to safe, effective, quality-assured and affordable health products. On the sidelines of the Regional Committee, the Institute of Philanthropy and the Regional Office for the Western Pacific announced a new four-year healthy ageing initiative involving WHO and The Chinese University of Hong Kong to advance approaches that enable older people to maintain functional ability and live well in their communities. Supported by the Institute and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust through a contribution of approximately US$ 7 million, the initiative forms part of a wider programme of work tied to the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030). “Over the past four days at the seventy-seventh Regional Committee, Member States have consistently underscored WHO’s role in supporting governments and other health partners, recognition for which we are truly grateful, ” said Dr Piukala. “This reiterates WHO’s value-add to countries in our Region and indeed globally, in advancing multilateralism in health – so crucial to our vision and mandate of Health for All. ” – END – For more information and/or to arrange media interviews, contact wprocom@who. int For all relevant documents, recordings and other material related to the seventy-seventh session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, visit: https: //www. who. int/westernpacific/about/governance/regional-committee/session-77.

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