The World Health Assembly agreed today on the first-ever global strategy on infection prevention and control, which builds on almost two decades of efforts led by WHO and partners. The strategy provides Member States with strategic directions to substantially reduce the ongoing risk of health care-associated infections, including those that exhibit antimicrobial resistance.
Health care-associated infections are among the most frequent adverse events occurring in the context of health service delivery. The COVID-19 pandemic and recent major disease outbreaks such as Ebola virus disease, the Middle East respiratory syndrome and the Sudan virus disease have clearly exposed the existing gaps in IPC programs in all countries.
The strategy sets a clear vision: by 2030, everyone accesses or providing health care is safe from associated infections. Its three key objectives are: to prevent infection in health care; act to ensure IPC programs are in place and implemented; and coordinate IPC activities with other areas and sectors.
The strategy is focused on any setting where health care is delivered, across the health system; it is based on the principle of clean and safe care as a fundamental component of the right to health, which is equity driven, and which should ensure accountability and sustainability.
The global IPC strategy will be complemented by, and used in conjunction with, an associated global action plan and monitoring framework, that will be developed in 2023–2024
Historic resolution paves the way for strengthening rehabilitation in health systems
Today, the World Health Assembly agreed a landmark resolution on strengthening rehabilitation in health systems. Rehabilitation services play a key role in ensuring the enjoyment of human rights, including the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. It also promotes reproductive health, and recognizes the right to work and the right to education.
This landmark resolution aims to address the challenges in rehabilitation, such as the need to:
increase awareness of rehabilitation when setting health priorities and research agendas, allocating resources, promoting cooperation and enabling technology transfer;
ensure countries are better equipped to respond to the sudden increase in rehabilitation needs including assistive technology due to health emergencies;
ensure persons in marginalized and vulnerable situations have access to affordable, quality and appropriate rehabilitation services including assistive technology;
avoid high out-of-pocket costs for people to access rehabilitation services and assistive technology that can cause financial hardships; and address the current insufficient level of rehabilitation workforce to serve the needs of the population.
The resolution lists a range of actions to be taken by the WHO Secretariat, such as: publishing a baseline report by the end of 2026 with information on the capacity of Member States to respond to rehabilitation needs; developing targets and indicators for effective coverage of rehabilitation services by 2030; ensuring appropriate resources are allocated at WHO to support Member States in implementing technical guidance and resources; and supporting Member States to integrate rehabilitation and assistive technology in their emergency preparedness and response plan.
Resolution on strengthening diagnostics capacity
On 26 May, Member States endorsed a resolution to strengthen diagnostics capacity in counters and to improve access to diagnostic services.
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