Global Neurosurgical Advocacy at the 78th World Health Assembly: Critical Collaboration at a Time of Geopolitical Change.

This article is part of an ongoing initiative to provide peer-reviewed updates to neurosurgeons on pertinent activities and initiatives at the annual World Health Assembly (WHA). The 78th WHA, which convened in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 19 to 27, 2025, presented a crucial platform for global neurosurgical advocacy after the recent withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization. Neurosurgical care was featured throughout the advocacy agenda, with neurosurgical delegates from nine countries driving collaborative discussions and educational events throughout the week. We reviewed and synthesized the WHA resolutions and side events most relevant to global neurosurgical care. Key neurosurgical advances during WHA78 included: (1) the call to action to recognize traumatic brain injury as a chronic and notifiable condition, (2) the first biennial update on folic acid fortification implementation working toward next year's progress report, and (3) the expansion of sustainable catalytic financing systems for surgical care.

Duke Scholars

Author Michael Martin Haglund Neurosurgery