KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- The 70th World Health Assembly(WHA) hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) will convene on 22 - 31 May 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHA is the world's highest health policy-setting body. Health ministers from 194 member states around the world, I will be leading the  Malaysian delegation to WHA this year to discuss, deliberate  and decide on  major policies concerning health. 
 
I  will speak during the WHA Plenary Meeting under the theme “Building Better Systems for Health In the Age of Sustainable Development”. The Goals have been set, the Targets defined, and ways of working debated. There is now wide agreement good health and well-being depend on, and contribute to social inclusion, shared prosperity and environmental protection. 
 
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a stimulus and an opportunity to build better systems for health and well-being - by strengthening per se to achieve universal health coverage, and by recognizing that health is linked to productivity in other systems: agriculture, education, employment, energy, environment and the economy. 
 
This year also marks a leadership change in WHO whereby the next WHO Director General will be elected from among the candidates from Ethiopia, the United Kingdom and Pakistan. Malaysia will cast the vote for the appointment of an advocate health leader who will lead the global health agency in tackling coming global health challenges for the next five years.
 
I  will also attend the 29th Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting on 21 May 2017 in Geneva under the theme, “Sustainable Financing of Universal Health Coverage as an Essential for Global Security Including the Reduction of All Forms of Violence”. Malaysia will emphasise and advocate on the need for a more comprehensive approach in building sustainable and resilient health systems in meeting the various health challenges. 
 
DATUK SERI DR. S. SUBRAMANIAM
Minister of Health, Malaysia 

SOURCE : Ministry of Health

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name : Nor Suzaman B. Abdul Rahman
Tel : 03-8883 3470 / 013-399 7025
Email : n.suzaman@moh.gov.my

--BERNAMA