보건복지부 영문홈페이지

Korean Government Delegation to Attend

the 75th Session of the World Health Organization

Regional Committee for the Western Pacific

- Key discussions to focus on programme budget, primary healthcare, digital health, health financing, and pandemic preparedness in the region -

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, Minister Cho KyooHong) and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, Commissioner Jee Youngmee) announced that the South Korean government delegation will attend the 75th Session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for the Western Pacific (hereinafter “Regional Committee”), to be held in Manila, Philippines, from Monday, October 21, to Friday, October 25.

The Regional Committee serves as a key platform where government representatives from 37 member countries in the Western Pacific convene to discuss the planning, implementation, and evaluation of health initiatives in the region, while fostering collaboration among member states.

South Korea will be represented by Choi Jun-ho, Director General of International Cooperation at MOHW, as the chief delegate, leading a delegation comprising officials from the MOHW, KDCA, and an advisory group. Bilateral meetings between the WPRO* Regional Director and the chief delegates of key member states such as Japan and Australia are also planned.

* WPRO, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific

On the first day of the Regional Committee (Monday, October 21), Dr. Saia Ma'u Piukala, WPRO Regional Director, will present the work of the past year. Following this, Chief Delegate Choi Jun-ho will reaffirm South Korea's commitment to working closely with WPRO to ensure health equity, improve public health and enhance healthcare crisis management across the Western Pacific region, while encouraging member countries to collaborate in addressing healthcare challenges.

The agenda will also include a final report on the buget performance of the 2022-2023 programme budget, followed by discussions among member countries on that of 2026-2027. In the panel discussion on "Transformative Primary Healthcare" and "Oral Health," insights on effective primary healthcare-centered reforms and strategies to enhance oral health worldwide. Additionally, side events will explore ways to strengthen pandemic preparedness and response using Pandemic Funds and share efforts through One Health initiatives, along with inter-agency collaboration strategies.

Throughout the discussions, South Korea will endorse the draft regional framework developed by WPRO for health financing and digital health, while reaffirming its ongoing commitment to enhancing healthcare systems across the Western Pacific. WPRO will also report on key progress in health security (including antimicrobial resistance and pandemic prevention and response), climate change, and the management of tuberculosis and malaria, aiming to bolster cooperation among member countries.

MOHW Director General Choi Jun-ho stated, "It is truly meaningful to participate in the Regional Committee, where we will not only reflect on WPRO's accomplishments but also address the challenges ahead in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals related to healthcare. As Korea currently serves on the WPRO Executive Board, we are dedicated to leading efforts to strengthen cooperation among member states." ///