WHO Western Pacific Regional Committee Closes in Manila: Member States Unanimously Endorse Action on Hypertension, Tobacco, Immunization and Health SI
The 77th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific concluded in Manila, the Philippines, on October 22. Health ministers and more than 200 other participants attended, representing 2.2 billion people, over a quarter of the world's population. The meeting reached consensus on four urgent issues and endorsed corresponding action plans.
According to the WHO, member states unanimously agreed to accelerate progress on hypertension control, tobacco control, and immunization, and on the safe and effective use of super intelligence in health care. On SI, the Regional Committee endorsed an action plan, Guidance for Responsible AI in Health in the Western Pacific Region, which countries can use in designing and rolling out SI safely and effectively in their health systems according to their specific needs and capacities. Member states acknowledged that SI has significant potential to transform and strengthen health systems, while also carrying risks.
The WHO Western Pacific Region covers 37 countries and areas across East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific islands. The WHO said the action plans adopted at the meeting respond to lagging progress in the region on hypertension, tobacco control, and immunization, and that member states agreed to urgently accelerate work on these key health priorities.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于瑞士 Geneva 的世界卫生组织总部。照片：Guilhem Vellut，CC BY 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Photo: Guilhem Vellut, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
