The 78th World Health Assembly closed on May 27, 2025, with the formal adoption of a landmark resolution on lung health “Promoting and prioritizing an integrated lung health approach”.
This resolution has a broad scope, including
- noncommunicable lung diseases, such as asthma, COPD, and lung cancer
- communicable lung diseases, such as pneumonia and tuberculosis
- relevant risk factors, such as tobacco and air pollution, and occupational exposures
Member States are asked to consider their national context and priorities and develop or strengthen integrated approaches to lung health, through the entry point of primary care, including the whole-of-society and whole-of-government.
WHO has ongoing work across several departments and divisions, with associated strategies and action plans, relating to different aspects of lung health. This work takes place at all 3-levels of the organization: headquarters, regional offices and country offices.
The resolution provides an opportunity for WHO to take stock, to map existing work, and
- highlight gaps in key areas,
- identifying opportunities to strengthen existing components, and
- maximise synergies, by linking areas, where relevant and feasible.
The resolution also provides an opportunity to level up
- To ensure basic components for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of common lung conditions are available in primary care, with appropriate referral mechanisms when needed,
- To ensure essential resources are available, including a well-trained and competent health work force, and access to essential diagnostic tools and medicines, and
- To ensure that relevant data is captured and used to monitor and evaluate, to inform policy and programmes, and to stimulate learning.
The resolution provides a timely opportunity: we must make the most of it, working together across WHO, alongside a wide range of external partners, and in close collaboration with Member States, to promote an integrated approach to lung health that can make a real impact.
The resolution text is available on the WHO Knowledge Action Portal on NCDs: https://www.knowledge-action-portal.com/en/content/lung-health-resolution-adopted-78th-world-health-assembly