World Health Assembly Passes Resolution on Economics of Health for All
5 June 2024
During her attendance at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, IIPP Director emphasized the importance of implementing the recommendations of the WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All.
In a significant step towards structuring global economies to prioritise health and well-being for all, member states at in Geneva have passed the year's . The resolution, informed by the final report of the , chaired by Professor Mariana Mazzucato, marks a crucial moment in recognizing the deep links between health and the economy and the need to shape economic policy to align with health goals.
The resolution follows Prof Mazzucato's participation on Wednesday 29th May in the . More than half of the world’s population, and two billion people face financial hardship due to health costs.
Speaking alongside WHO Director-General , and a distinguished panel, Prof Mazzucato emphasised the importance of viewing rather than a short-term cost. She highlighted the need for collaboration between ministers of health, industry, and finance in designing economies that prioritise the well-being of their citizens. This is of particular importance as austerity  has returned to many countries and while the demands continue to rise (for example, through increased outbreaks due to climate change).
The WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All, chaired by Prof Mazzucato, launched its final report titled "" at last year's WHA. The report's 13 bold recommendations across four interrelated pillars - value, finance, innovation and capacity -have been instrumental in shaping the resolution passed by member states this year. With the resolution's approval, the WHO and its member states now have a mandate to implement the transformative measures outlined in the Council's report. For example, the Resolution requests WHO to develop a global implementation strategy within the next two years and urges governments to orient economic and innovation strategies towards the goal of Health for All.
Prof Mazzucato, accompanied by Fabian Moser, an MPA student at IIPP, and her Head of Policy, Sarah Doyle, met with several health ministers during the WHA to discuss the implications of the Council's recommendations in the context of national priorities. In a conversation with Spain's Minister of Health, , they discussed how Spain is seeking to reorient public-private collaboration to deliver better health outcomes in the public’s interest, in line with the recommendations of the WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All.
Prof Mazzucato also had a productive meeting with Australian Minister for Health & Aged Care, , about how Australia's new aims to bring health to the centre of how economic success is understood and evaluated, serving as an example of the dashboard of indicators recommended by the Council.
Additionally, following the launch of the Portuguese edition of the WHO Council report in µþ°ù²¹²õñô¾±²¹ (October 2023), discussions with Brazil's vice health minister, ,  focused on  strengthening  symbiotic public-private alliances to maximize public value for health. Through its  Brazil has brought  different ministries together to improve Brazil’s health outcomes through industrial policy.
Prof. Mazzucato has also been actively involved in informing the . Negotiations on the new international agreement to improve pandemic preparedness and response will continue over the next year with important ramifications. For example, the agreement is a chance to prevent renewed vaccine bidding wars and improve the sharing of pathogen samples and pandemic related products for swift and global responses to future pandemics. Prof Mazzucato has stressed the importance of , particularly in the areas of innovation and finance. This push for equity aligns with the overarching goal of achieving health for all, as outlined in the Council's report and the recently passed resolution.
The passage of the Resolution on the Economics of Health for All represents a significant milestone in the global effort to prioritise health and well-being in economic policy. As member states and WHO work to implement the recommendations put forth by the WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All, it will be that are required to achieve Health for All.
We will continue to work closely with WHO, the Council on the Economics of Health for All, and governments in the next phase of transferring this mandate into real, practical  programmes and changes at national and multilateral levels.