Readout of Secretary Price’s First Day in Geneva for 70th World Health Assembly
On Sunday, May 21, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, M.D. arrived in Geneva, Switzerland to lead the U.S. delegation to the 70th World Health Assembly (WHA), which begins Monday, May 22. The WHA is a gathering of health officials representing members of the World Health Organization (WHO). At this year’s meeting, WHO members will elect a new Director-General of the WHO for a five-year term. During the WHA, Secretary Price and the U.S. delegation will also focus on proposals for actions to strengthen global health security and address anti-microbial resistance (AMR).
During his first day in Geneva, Secretary Price met with the U.S. Delegation Private Sector Advisor, Dr. David Barash. Dr. Barash serves as the Chief Medical Officer and Executive Director of Global Health for the GE Foundation. Their meeting highlights the critical importance of public-private partnerships in advancing healthcare innovation and access to care.
Secretary Price met with health officials from Taiwan to discuss mutual efforts in support of global health security – the first of many bilateral meetings to come throughout the Secretary’s participation in the WHA. During a visit to the WHO headquarters, Secretary Price toured the Strategic Health Operations Center. The center monitors disease outbreaks and responses from around the world to ensure coordination among nations in addressing threats to the public health.
The Secretary concluded his meetings for the day with a visit to the U.S. Mission and a conversation with members of the U.S. delegation on hand for the WHA. Secretary Price thanked the delegation for their commitment to the work they do to ensure the U.S. plays a positive, leading role in global health security.