The 78th Regional Committee Session of WHO South-East Asia will be hosted by Sri Lanka from 13 to 15 October, with health leaders from Member States gathering to discuss key priorities including healthy ageing through strengthened primary health care and combating smokeless tobacco.
Health ministers and senior officials are also expected to explore expanding the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF) and accelerating regional action against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO South-East Asia Office-In-Charge Dr. Catharina Boehme, and other experts are slated to participate in the three-day meeting, which will set the Region’s health agenda for the coming years.
The session is expected to adopt resolutions on priority health issues, review progress on previous resolutions, and endorse a declaration on healthy ageing. The focus comes as the population aged over 60 in the Region is projected to rise to 20.9% by 2050, up from 11.3% in 2024. Policymakers aim to ensure health and social systems are prepared to maximize the benefits of this demographic shift.
Delegates will also discuss strategies to curb the use of smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and areca nut. The Region accounts for one-third of global tobacco users, with over 280 million adult smokeless tobacco users and approximately 11 million adolescent users. The growing use of novel nicotine products and the cultural prevalence of areca nut present additional challenges.
SEARHEF, established in 2008 to support lifesaving interventions during health emergencies, has assisted 49 emergencies across 10 Member States and expanded its mandate in 2016 to include emergency preparedness. Discussions will focus on increasing the fund’s resources.
Combating AMR by aligning regional policies with global commitments, including the UN General Assembly’s Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance, will also be a key agenda item.
Home to nearly 2 billion people, the WHO South-East Asia Region is prioritizing mental health, well-being, investment in women, girls, adolescents and vulnerable populations, and leveraging technology, innovation, research, and knowledge management to strengthen health systems. The goal is to promote, provide, and protect the health of all people and to accelerate progress toward health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
