News
Strengthening the Global Health System is Everyone’s Responsibility – Minister
19 May 2026
South-East Asian Nations Call for Stronger Leadership and Sustainable Financing to Reform Global Health System
Countries in the South-East Asia region have called for stronger national leadership and sustainable financial support to reform the global health system.
The appeal was made during the World Health Assembly through a statement delivered by Maldives’ Minister of Health, Geela Ali, on behalf of member states from the region.
In the statement, the minister highlighted that growing economic challenges and political instability facing the global health system make this a crucial time to strengthen international cooperation. Despite these challenges, South-East Asian countries have achieved notable progress in disease control, emergency preparedness, and digital health initiatives.
The minister also emphasized that the region has become a global example through its successful disease eradication efforts and strong tobacco-control measures, including generational bans aimed at protecting future generations from tobacco use.
The region identified three key priorities for reforming the global health architecture:
- placing country leadership at the center of decision-making,
- improving evidence-based policymaking,
- ensuring fair and sustainable health financing, and
- strengthening international partnerships to address regional health challenges.
The minister further stressed the importance of capable and strong leadership across all levels of the World Health Organization to successfully achieve these goals.
Concluding the statement, the minister called on all nations to work together to overcome current health challenges. He said that by increasing cooperation and unity instead of division, countries can bring meaningful change to the global health sector, and that South-East Asia continues to demonstrate confidence in collective action and partnership.