With a record wave of new commitments to SURGfund, the catalytic model for surgical care is moving from proof of concept towards scale — and the results are already saving lives.

Navigate the busy week of the 2026 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) with ease. The Global Surgery Foundation’s comprehensive 2026 Side Events Calendar is your central hub to discover high-impact panels, coordinate your schedule, and submit your own events taking place in Geneva and online.

On 18 May 2026, the Global Surgery Foundation returned to the World Health Assembly with What's Next for Philanthropy: Investing in Local Leaders for Impact, a WHA79 side-event at the Hôtel InterContinental in Geneva and online. Watch the recording and download the report.

As the global health community prepares for the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in 2025, the Global Surgery Foundation (GSF) is curating a comprehensive and up-to-date list of WHA78 side events. 

On 19 May 2025, the Global Surgery Foundation brought global leaders together at the Hôtel InterContinental in Geneva and online for its WHA78 side-event, Accelerating Catalytic Financing in a New Era, where donors announced new commitments to SURGfund. Watch the recording and download the report.

The GSF side-event at WHA77 convened a diverse array of global health leaders, representing UN member states, United Nations bodies, philanthropy, academia, civil society, and industry. The event report is now available.

The special WHA77 GSF side-event took place on 27 May 2024 at the Hôtel InterContinental.

The Global Surgery Foundation (GSF) officially announced SURGfund at its 76th World Health Assembly side event on 23 May 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Moving Dialogue to Implementation. The Global Surgery Foundation invites you a special World Health Assembly (WHA) side event on 23 May 2023.

Fiji's Minister of Health, Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete, addressed the World Health Assembly audience with a powerful message: the investment case for surgical systems strengthening is a done deal. It needs to happen.

The Global Surgery Foundation (GSF) has announced that it will be hosting a special side event at the 76th World Health Assembly.

UNAIDS’ Health Innovation Exchange (HIEx) and The Global Surgery Foundation (GSF) partnered on two sessions within the framework of the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA). The present report by HIEx highlights the collaboration by the two organisations.

Together, let’s take the next step in global health. The Global Surgery Foundation invites you a special World Health Assembly (WHA) side event on 23 May 2022.

Watch Lancet Editor in Chief Dr. Richard Horton's personal address at the 72nd World Health Assembly on May 20, 2019.