The 72nd annual World Health Assembly ended today in Geneva. Over the past 9 days, Member States adopted a new global strategy on health, environment and climate change and committed to invest in safe water, sanitation and hygiene services in health facilities.

Countries adopted a landmark agreement to enhance the transparency of pricing for medicines, vaccines and other health products. The new WHO programme budget was approved and a common approach to antimicrobial resistance was agreed.

Patient safety was recognized as a global health priority and the 11^th Edition of the International Classification of Diseases was adopted.

Countries agreed three resolutions on universal health coverage with a focus on primary healthcare, the role of community health workers and the High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage in New York in September 2019.

• “I cannot emphasise strongly enough what a decisive moment for public health the High-Level Meeting could be. A strong declaration, with strong political support, could transform the lives of billions of people, in realizing what we have always advocated for – health for all,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, at the closing speechfor the World Health Assembly 72.