Associated Press: The Latest: U.S. backs reform efforts at U.N. health agency
“The United States, the biggest contributor to the World Health Organization, says it supports efforts by the agency’s chief to restructure and find reforms in the organization’s budget. … U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services Alex Azar said Monday the United States … was ‘supportive’ of efforts by its chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to restructure the agency…” (5/20).

Global Health NOW: A Surprise Beginning for #WHA72
“…Usually a rote exercise of procedure and aggrandizement, the Assembly surprised many with an unexpected quality: Emotion. The change came early in the morning when Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of The Lancet, gave a passionate guest address in which he shared a personal health crisis…” (Simpson, 5/20).

Xinhua News: Universal health coverage: WHO vows to leave no-one behind
“The 72nd World Health Assembly (WHA) kicked off [in Geneva] on Monday focusing on the theme ‘Universal Health Coverage: Leaving No-one Behind.’ … ‘Primary health care is where the battle for human health is won and lost,’ said the director general in his address opening the WHA. ‘It’s through strong primary health care that countries can prevent, detect, and treat non-communicable diseases.’ … WHA delegates are scheduled to adopt a number of resolutions, including a detailed budget for the WHO, after the organization unveiled its structural reform in March…” (5/20).