Macau advances global health goals at 78th World Health Assembly

The 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78), held from May 19 to May 27 in Geneva, brought together health ministers, senior officials, and key stakeholders from around the world under the theme “One World for Health.”

Representatives from the Macau delegation participated in the assembly, joining the Chinese delegation in plenary sessions and bilateral meetings.

The delegation included director Alvis Lo of the Health Bureau (SSM), Advisor Leong Veng Han from the Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Wa Hou Tai, assistant to the Medical Board at Conde S. Januario Hospital and Leong Iek Hou, head of the SSM’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

Opening remarks began with WHO director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressing the need for unity.

“We are here to serve not our own interests, but the eight billion people of our world; to leave a heritage for those who come after us […] to work together for a healthier, more peaceful and more equitable world,” Tedros said.

He highlighted WHO’s funding gap, urging member states to support a new Pandemic Agreement and increase contributions. “If we think USD2.1 billion a year is ambitious – or 4.2 billion for the biennium – then either we must lower our ambitions for what WHO is and does, or we must raise the money. I know which I will choose, and I hope you will choose the same.”

During bilateral discussions, Ambassador Chen Xu, China’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, welcomed Macau’s active role in presenting a unified Chinese voice at the assembly. Director Alvis Lo expressed gratitude for the warm reception and outlined Macao’s health initiatives, including the “Healthy Macao Blueprint,” which prioritizes prevention, early detection, and resource allocation to improve healthcare attitudes and outcomes.

“We have incorporated health elements into public policies and launched programs such as ‘Healthy Community,’ ‘Healthy Enterprises,’ and ‘Healthy Campuses’ to safeguard residents’ well-being,” Lo said.

He also highlighted the region’s focus on geriatric and family medicine to address population aging and chronic diseases.

“We are establishing a family medicine training base to enhance medical personnel’s capabilities and promote greater regional collaboration within the Greater Bay Area,” Lo explained.

According to SSM, Macau’s engagement on the global health stage extends beyond policy. The China International Emergency Medical Team (Macao) recently completed a mission in Myanmar, providing post-disaster medical care that was praised by WHO and Myanmar authorities.

Since 2015, the SAR has hosted the WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine and co-organized 15 interregional training workshops to improve access to safe, quality traditional medicine worldwide.

In April, Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai announced an increase in healthcare vouchers from MOP600 to MOP700 to support residents’ health needs.