2025 Calendar of Side-Events at the 78th World Health Assembly

The Global Surgery Foundation (GSF) is maintaining this WHA78 events calendar to support the global health community during the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA 2025). This public WHA2025 side event schedule includes both official and independent side events happening in Geneva and online throughout the WHA week.

Browse the calendar to find relevant WHA side-events, coordinate with partners, and make the most of this important global health moment.

This WHA2025 calendar of events is updated regularly, but GSF does not take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of third-party listings. We encourage you to verify all event details via the official links provided.

We also warmly invite you to attend this year’s GSF WHA Side-Event.

Know of a WHA78 event that’s missing?

Submit it using the button below so we can include it in the calendar and increase its visibility among WHA78 attendees.

Event submissions are subject to a review against inclusion criteria.

Sunday, 18 May 2025

WHA side-events schedule

Cancelled: Walk the Talk Geneva 2025

World Health Organization
9:00 - 11:00 AM
Place des Nations

Nursing & Midwifery Stakeholders Meeting on SOTA Care

G4 Alliance, Global Surgery Foundation, Operation Smile
11:00 AM - 1 PM
GSF Headquarters at Campus Biotech
By invitation only

10th Anniversary Celebration of the Global Surgery Movement

International College of Surgeons, The G4 Alliance
4:00 - 7:00 PM
Warwick Hotel

Monday, 19 May 2025

WHA side-events schedule

Integrating Congenital Conditions into Maternal and Child Health Programs

Global Action for Congenital Conditions (GACC)
7:30 - 9:30 AM
John Knox International Center

GSF Side-Event

The Global Surgery Foundation
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Hotel InterContinental

Tuesday, 20 May 2025

WHA side-events schedule

Turning The Tide: Leveraging Ai And Innovative Finance For Healthcare Resilience

Health Innovation Exchange
All-day
Hotel InterContinental

Geneva Health Forum 2025 (Day 1)

Nutrition
See link for latest session schedule
All-day
Campus Biotech

From Data to Action: How Standards & Metrics Drive Patient Safety

WFSA, UCSF Center for Health Equity in Surgery & Anesthesia (CHESA)
12:00 - 2:00 PM
Geneva Press Club

Launch of the Lancet Health Policy article on Global Surgery 2025-2035

NIHR Global Surgery Unit, University of Birmingham, The Lancet, BJS
6:00 - 10:00 PM
La Pastorale

2 Year Country Progress on Implementing 76.19, Reducing Microdeficiencies Though Large Scale Food Fortification

Global Alliance for the Prevention of Spina Bifida and Folic Acid Deficiency (GAPSBIF)
6:00 - 8:30 PM
UNICEF Office

Wednesday, 21 May 2025

WHA side-events schedule

Geneva Health Forum 2025 (Day 2)

Climate Change and Health, Migration and Health
See link for latest session schedule
All-day
Campus Biotech

The Power of Partnerships: Is there a Wider Private Sector Role in Achieving the Global Health Agenda

International SOS
8:00 - 10:00 AM
Hotel Royal Geneva

Advancing Global Health: Science Agenda for the World Health Assembly

Science Summit
11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Hotel InterContinental

Recognizing Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as a Chronic Notifiable Condition & Operative Encounter Registry (OER)

G4 Alliance, Northwest School of Medicine, Cambridge University, Brain Injury Canada
2:00 PM
Novotel Geneve Centre

Strengthening Health Systems for Universal Health Coverage: Implementing Surgical Care

Operation Smile, Mercy Ships
5:00 PM
Hotel Warwick

Milestones & Momentum in Rare Diseases: 10 Years of Progress, 10 Years of Possibility

Rare Diseases International
6:00 - 9:00 PM
La Pastorale

TRANSFORMING THE NARRATIVE: Chronic Respiratory Diseases in the HLM4

Copenhagen Institute of Futures Studies, Sanofi Regeneron
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Hilton Geneva Hotel & Conference Centre

Thursday, 22 May 2025

WHA side-events schedule

Geneva Digital Health Day - Geneva Health Forum 2025 (Day 3)

All-day
Digital Health, AI, Implementation Science and Policy, Space & Health
See link for latest session schedule
Campus Biotech

Bridging Field Experience and Global Evidence to Elevate Reconstructive Surgery on the World Health Agenda

2nd Chance Swiss Association
5:45 PM
La Pastorale

Evidence-Based Policy Making for Digital Wellbeing: Addressing Problematic Internet Use (PUI)

WHO Collaborating Centre for Training and Research in Mental Health SWI54
6:30 PM
Campus Biotech

Friday, 23 May 2025

WHA side-events schedule

Geneva Health Forum 2025 (Day 4)

See link for latest session schedule
All-day
Campus Biotech

Addressing Pediatric Non-Communicable Diseases: Building Systems-Based Approaches in Nutrition

International Initiative for Pediatrics and Nutrition
5 - 7 PM
Hotel President Wilson, Apollon Conference Room

Something missing? Use the button at the top of this page to submit a 2025 WHA78 side-event.