Global Health Strategy and Fourteenth General Programme of Work 2025–2028
A health volunteer helps care for a patient at the Koo Bang Luang health promotion hospital on 17 July 2020
A bold agenda to advance health equity and build resilience in a turbulent world
The Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14) sets a global health agenda and will guide WHO’s work in support of Member States and partners for the 4-year period 2025–2028. It reinvigorates the actions needed to get the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track, and to help health-care systems prepare to meet the challenges of the future.
The Strategy recognizes that the world has dramatically changed since the adoption of the SDGs, and sets an ambitious roadmap for global health in the face of key challenges including climate change, an ageing population, migration and a rapidly changing geopolitical environment, as well as the opportunities afforded by advancing science and technology.
The Strategy builds on the strengths of the Thirteenth General Programme of Work, and the recommendations from the Evaluation of GPW 13. Its overarching vision is to promote, provide and protect the health and well-being of all people, everywhere.
The Global Health Strategy was adopted by the World Health Assembly at its 77th meeting in May 2024.
Six strategic objectives for 2025–2028
Respond to climate change, an escalating health threat in the 21st century.
Address health determinants and the root causes of ill health in key policies across sectors.
Advance the primary health care approach and essential health system capacities for universal health coverage.
Improve health service coverage and financial protection to address inequity and gender inequalities.
Prevent, mitigate and prepare for health risks from all hazards.
Rapidly detect and sustain an effective response to all health emergencies.
Achieving the full impact of the Global Health Strategy
WHO has a unique role, at the centre of the global health architecture, in facilitating, enabling and ensuring the impact of this bold new strategy for health and well-being globally. Achieving this ambition requires the full, sustainable and predictable financing of the Organization’s base budget for the period 2025–2028. This investment in WHO is vital to ensuring that by the end of 2028 the Secretariat’s work, together with Member States and partners, will enable:
- 6 billion people to enjoy better health and well-being;
- 5 billion people to benefit from universal health coverage without financial hardship; and
- 7 billion people to be better protected from health emergencies.
In achieving these targets, the world can exploit the opportunity of 2025–2028 to advance health equity, get the health-related Sustainable Development Goals back on track, and “future-proof” health systems and communities, protecting them against the inevitable shocks and challenges of the post-SDG era.
