2025 Calendar of Side-Events at the 78th World Health Assembly

The Global Surgery Foundation (GSF) is maintaining this WHA78 events calendar to support the global health community during the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA 2025). This public WHA2025 side event schedule includes both official and independent side events happening in Geneva and online throughout the WHA week.

Browse the calendar to find relevant WHA side-events, coordinate with partners, and make the most of this important global health moment.

The inclusion of events on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement by GSF.  This WHA2025 calendar of events is updated regularly, but GSF does not take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of third-party listings. We encourage you to verify all event details via the official links provided.

We also warmly invite you to register for the GSF WHA Side-Event

Know of a WHA78 event that’s missing?

Submit it using the button below so we can include it in the calendar and increase its visibility among WHA78 attendees.

Event submissions are subject to a review against inclusion criteria.

Sunday, 18 May 2025

WHA side-events schedule

Cancelled: Walk the Talk Geneva 2025

World Health Organization
9:00 - 11:00 AM
Place des Nations

Nursing & Midwifery Stakeholders Meeting on SOTA Care

G4 Alliance, Global Surgery Foundation, Operation Smile
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
GSF Headquarters at Campus Biotech
By invitation only

Stakeholders in Global Surgical and Anesthesia Healthcare

IFSCS, The G4 Alliance, InciSioN
1:30 - 3:30 PM
Virtual

NCD Action in a Changing World: Priorities for the fourth UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health

NCD Alliance, World Heart Federation
3:30 - 4:45 PM
Campus Biotech

10th Anniversary Celebration of the Global Surgery Movement

International College of Surgeons, The G4 Alliance
4:00 - 7:00 PM
Warwick Hotel

Monday, 19 May 2025

WHA side-events schedule

Unlocking the Value of ‘Women and Health’ - A paradigm shift for equity, innovation, and sustainable impact

7:30 - 10:30 AM
City Cancer Challenge (C/Can)
Hotel InterContinental, Ballroom B

Integrating Congenital Conditions into Maternal and Child Health Programs

Global Action for Congenital Conditions (GACC)
7:30 - 9:30 AM
John Knox International Center

The ECO Continuum: How ACAN is Driving Better Patient Outcomes

Acute Care Action Network (ACAN)
7:30 - 9:00 AM
Impact Hub

Operating for Equity: Strengthening Surgical Systems to Achieve UHC

International Student Surgical Network – InciSioN
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Civil Society Networking Space

It takes a system to save a life: how Tanzania and Nigeria are making the day of birth safer

GFF, Laerdal Global Health, ECSA and Haydom Lutheran Hospital
11:00 AM
Warwick Hotel

Global Health Diplomacy Forum: Innovative Strategies to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) & Youth Empowerment in Global Health

Taiwan Healthcare Youth Alliance (THYA)
1:00 - 5:00 PM
President Wilson Hotel Geneva

Health Without Borders – Integrated Primary Healthcare for All

Organized by IDA, Sightsavers, ASTMH, GHC, PATH, IDDC, YHO and Amref Health Africa
3:30 - 5:00 PM
Civil Society Networking Space

Rising Challenges, Diminishing Resources: Investing in the Health Workforce to Deliver UHC

World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA)
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Warwick Hotel

Accelerating Catalytic Financing in a New Era: Powerful Opportunities Beyond 2025

The Global Surgery Foundation
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Hotel InterContinental, Ballroom A
Catered dinner reception follows panel discussions

The Power of Global Partnerships for Achieving Universal Health Coverage

Global Health Partnerships (formerly THET), NHS England and UK Government
7:00 - 10:00 PM
Warwick Hotel

Tuesday, 20 May 2025

WHA side-events schedule

Turning The Tide: Leveraging Ai And Innovative Finance For Healthcare Resilience

Health Innovation Exchange
All-day
Hotel InterContinental

Geneva Health Forum 2025 (Day 1)

Nutrition
See link for latest session schedule
All-day
Campus Biotech

Investing in Health & Care Workforce: Navigating Political Agenda Impact

Center for Indonesia's Strategic Development Initiatives
9:00 - 11:30 AM
Geneva International Conference Center

From Data to Action: How Standards & Metrics Drive Patient Safety

WFSA, UCSF Center for Health Equity in Surgery & Anesthesia (CHESA)
12:00 - 2:00 PM
Geneva Press Club

Transforming Women’s Health: Lessons from the Global South

Presented by Jhpiego and their partners with support from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)
12:30 - 14:30 PM
InterContinental Geneva - Ballroom A

China's Medical Technology Innovation and its Implication for Global Health

UNIGE, Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University
12:30 - 3:00 PM
Campus Biotech

Malnutrition, the road to 2030: building on success, facing what's next

Geneva Health Forum
2:00 - 4:30 PM
Campus Biotech

Reshaping Universal Health Coverage - The Path Ahead: Strengthening Universal Health Coverage in a Transforming World

STUF United Fund and Global Health Council
2:00 - 4:30 PM
Hotel President Wilson

Building a healthier society fit for the future – annual launch of the Healthy Ageing and Prevention Index 2025 alongside the 78th World Health Assembly

International Longevity Centre UK
3:00 - 4:30 PM
Geneva Press Club

Launch of the Lancet Health Policy article on Global Surgery 2025-2035

NIHR Global Surgery Unit, University of Birmingham, The Lancet, BJS
6:00 - 10:00 PM
La Pastorale

Accelerating Action on Micronutrient Deficiencies and Their Consequences, including Spina Bifida: Delivering on WHA 76.19 through Large-Scale Food Fortification

Global Alliance for the Prevention of Spina Bifida (GAPSBiF)
6:00 - 8:30 PM
UNICEF Office

Navigating the global health landscape: Routes to prioritizing sustainable and equitable access to care

IQVIA and Sanofi
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Hotel N'vY

Acting on Resolution WHA76.2: Strengthening Acute Care Systems to Save Lives

Ethiopia, Tanzania, the Philippines, WHO Foundation, ICRC, Laerdal Foundation
6:00 - 7:30 PM
ICRC Humanitarium/International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum

Global Coalition on Oral Health: Mobilizing for Equity, Leadership, and Action towards the 4th UNHLM on NCDs and beyond

FDI World Dental Dederation & the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research
6:30 - 8:45 AM
Royal Hotel Geneva

Wednesday, 21 May 2025

WHA side-events schedule

Geneva Health Forum 2025 (Day 2)

Climate Change and Health, Migration and Health
See link for latest session schedule
All-day
Campus Biotech

Innovative Health Financing for Sustainable Cancer Care - The Money. The Metrics. The Models. What’s changing - and why it matters

City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) & Access Accelerated
8:00 - 10:30 AM
Hotel InterContinental (Rome Room)
By invitation only

The Power of Partnerships: Is there a Wider Private Sector Role in Achieving the Global Health Agenda

International SOS
8:00 - 10:00 AM
Hotel Royal Geneva

Scaling Impact: Climate & Health Solutions That Drive Change

Geneva Health Forum
9:00 - 10:30 AM
Campus Biotech

Fourth Meeting of the Global Coalition of Deans of Schools of Public Health

Global Coalition of Deans of Schools of Public Health
9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Campus Biotech

Global Pharmaceutical Forum on Medication Supply

Taiwan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (TSHP)
9:00 - 11:50 AM
Geneva International Conference Center (CICG) Plenary B

Securing the Future of Global Health – United Front for Sustainable Financing

IDA, GHTC, ASTMH, PATH, World Health Summit and the Amref Health Africa
10:20 AM - 12:00 PM
Civil Society Networking Space

Advancing Global Health: Science Agenda for the World Health Assembly

Science Summit
11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Hotel InterContinental

Recognizing Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as a Chronic Notifiable Condition & Operative Encounter Registry (OER)

G4 Alliance, Northwest School of Medicine, Cambridge University, Brain Injury Canada
2:00 PM
Novotel Geneve Centre

Changing the Story: Collaboration & Solutions for Migrant Health

Geneva Health Forum
2:00 - 3:30 PM
Campus Biotech

Climate Change and Health: Adaptation and Resilience in a Changing World

Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University
2:00 - 3:30 PM
Campus Biotech

Leveraging Innovation for NCD Care: Policy, Systems, and Lessons from Oncology Leaders

Hosted by MSD
2:00 - 4:00 PM
Novotel Genève Centre

Strengthening Health Systems for Universal Health Coverage: Implementing Surgical Care

Operation Smile, Mercy Ships
5:00 PM
Hotel Warwick

Taking Responsibility for Health in a Fragmenting World

World Health Summit
5:00 - 9:30 PM
InterContinental Hotel

Navigating evolving contexts: From local production to equitable access to health products – lessons from MAV+ on bridging the gap

Team Europe MAV+
5:30 - 7:00 PM
By invitation only (see contact details at link)

Milestones & Momentum in Rare Diseases: 10 Years of Progress, 10 Years of Possibility

Rare Diseases International
6:00 - 9:00 PM
La Pastorale

Strengthening Medical Imaging Capacity: The Time is Now

ISR, WFNMB and Siemens Healthineers
6:30 - 8:30 PM
Four Seasons Hotel Des Bergues

TRANSFORMING THE NARRATIVE: Chronic Respiratory Diseases in the HLM4

Copenhagen Institute of Futures Studies, Sanofi Regeneron
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Hilton Geneva Hotel & Conference Centre

Fighting the Fakes: Securing Progress, Building Stronger Partnerships

Fight the Fakes Alliance
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Restaurant Terrasse de la Paix at the Graduate Institute

Thursday, 22 May 2025

WHA side-events schedule

Young Lives, Lasting Change: Advancing Sickle Cell Action Ahead of the UN HLM

World Coalition on Sickle Cell Disease, UNICEF
8:00 - 10:00 AM
The Graduate Institute (Room C1)

Surveillance and innovation for dengue & arboviruses: international unity to avert a future health emergency

International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ISNTD)
8:00 - 10:00 AM
Hotel President Wilson

Leaders 2050 Global Health Young Leaders Breakfast

KPMG Leaders 2050
8:00 - 9:30 AM
InterContinental Hotel

Geneva Digital Health Day - Geneva Health Forum 2025 (Day 3)

Digital Health, AI, Implementation Science and Policy, Space & Health
9 AM - 7 PM
See link for latest session schedule
Campus Biotech

Better Community Health : A New Landscape of Community Health in the Era of Aging, Urbanization, and Digital Transformation

School of Public Health, Fudan University
9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Campus Biotech

Educating, Equipping, and Empowering The Leaders of Today: A Workshop on the Sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly

Global Health Governance as Public Service/Sunway Centre for Planetary Health
9:00 AM - 5:15 PM
Médecins Sans Frontières office

Presentation of public health courses in Switzerland

Swiss School Public Health and University of Geneva
3:00 - 4:30 PM
Campus Biotech

Bridging Field Experience and Global Evidence to Elevate Reconstructive Surgery on the World Health Agenda

2nd Chance Swiss Association
5:45 PM
La Pastorale

Accelerating Progress on Universal Access to Palliative Care

Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Nations Business Centre

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: A STRATEGIC IMPERATIVE FOR HEALTH WITH GARETH SOUTHGATE

World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Ecole Hôtelière de Genève

Global Health Mixer Reception

KPMG Global Health Equity & Access Team
6:00 - 8:00 PM
InterContinental Hotel

Evidence-Based Policy Making for Digital Wellbeing: Addressing Problematic Internet Use (PUI)

WHO Collaborating Centre for Training and Research in Mental Health SWI54
6:30 PM
Campus Biotech

Friday, 23 May 2025

WHA side-events schedule

Geneva Health Forum 2025 (Day 4)

See link for latest session schedule
All-day
Campus Biotech

Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health 2025

Korea Foundation for International Healthcare
1:30 - 3:30 PM
Campus Biotech

Interdisciplinary Cooperation and Innovation in One Health

Taiwan Healthcare Youth Alliance for WHA
2:00 - 3:30 PM
Varembé Conference Centre (CCV), Lausanne Room

2025 NextGen Global Health Summit - Online

Taiwan Healthcare Youth Alliance for WHA
2:00 - 5:00 PM
Online

Youth Empowerment in Global Health

Taiwan Healthcare Youth Alliance for WHA
3:50 - 5:00 PM
Varembé Conference Centre (CCV), Lausanne Room

Addressing Pediatric Non-Communicable Diseases: Building Systems-Based Approaches in Nutrition

International Initiative for Pediatrics and Nutrition, International Agency for Research on Cancer/World Health Organization, World Health Organization Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, International Society of Paediatric Oncology
5 - 7 PM
Hotel President Wilson, Apollon Conference Room

Increasing youth engagement and involvement in local, national and international AMR action

Quadripartite Working Group on Youth Engagement for AMR
5:30 - 7:00 PM
Centre de Conference Varembé, Sale Nyon

Something missing? Use the button at the top of this page to submit a 2025 WHA78 side-event.