WHA72 – 11.4 Agenda for Sustainable Developement

THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, INC.
L’ASSOCIATION MEDICALE MONDIALE, INC
ASOCIACION MEDICA MUNDIAL, INC
Centre International de Bureaux FEIN : 13-2566243
Immeuble A «Keynes» Website : www.wma.net Postal Address :
13, chemin du Levant Telephone : (33) 4 50 40 75 75 Boîte Postale 63
01210 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE Fax : (33) 4 50 40 59 37 01210 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE Cedex
France E-mail address : wma@wma.net France
72nd
World Health Assembly
11.4 Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Honourable Chairperson, Distinguished Delegates,
Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the World Medical Association, representing 9
million physicians around the world.
As physicians, we strongly support the 2030 agenda and welcome this report as a summary of the
progress made and as a reminder of the need to redouble efforts to prevent backsliding, ensuring
that no one is left behind. We recognize that violence, including sexual violence, environmental
risks, health emergencies, non-communicable and infectious diseases constitute some of the critical
barriers to the achievement of the 2030 agenda.
We would like to emphasize as well that in many countries, weak health systems still remain an
obstacle to progress and lead to gaps in the coverage of even the most basic health services.
WMA is concerned by the lack of health professionals to achieve SDG 3 – Ensure healthy lives and
promote wellbeing for all at all ages. The latest data available shows that 76 countries still have less
than one physician per thousand population. We call on member states to highlight in national
action plans how they will ensure a close strong and balance health workforce.
In addition, the WMA shares WHO’s concerns about the increasing violence against health
professionals, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, and the disastrous consequences on
the provision of health care and patients’ safety. No health worker should fear for their security in
providing medical assistance or in demanding an end to violence.
We call on WHO and member states to work closely with National Medical Associations, health
professional organisations and other relevant stakeholders on the ongoing implementation of the
agenda 2030 and national action plans.
Thank you.