FDI joins the 156th WHO Executive Board to advocate for oral health for improved overall health
The 156th session of the WHO Executive Board (EB156) held from 3 to 11 February 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. Participants in this important meeting included WHO Member States, representatives of other United Nations Agencies and non-State actors, including FDI and the International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (IADR).
Over eight days, EB156 addressed 47 items and subitems, including the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), Universal Health Coverage (UHC), mental health and social connection, oral health among others. FDI promoted the importance of oral health through joint statements developed in collaboration with the IADR. It is noteworthy that the reduced funding support for WHO impacted the outcomes of the meeting and the follow-up actions to be undertaken by the WHO Secretariat, ahead of the World Health Assembly, in May 2025.
UHC for all through equitable and inclusive primary healthcare
EB156 reviewed a report which stressed that 4.5 billion people globally lack access to essential health services, of which 2 billion people are exposed to catastrophic or impoverishing healthcare costs due to payments made out-of-pocket. The report recognizes primary healthcare as the fastest, most effective, inclusive, and equitable path to UHC. It calls for increased public financing and financial risk protection to eliminate impoverishing health costs. It also highlighted the need to prioritize health in national budgets and action, invest in health promotion and disease prevention and implement robust health and care workforce development policies.
In its joint statement on this agenda item, FDI and IADR called attention to the out-of-pocket payments common with accessing even the most basic oral care. They also raised the need to ensure national UHC programmes include a basic package of essential oral health services at the primary care level.
Assessing progress on oral diseases and other NCDs
EB156 reviewed a report on the implementation of the political declaration of the third
high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of NCDs (2018). The report cautions that progress towards the 2030 target 3.4 of the Sustainable Development Goals remains off track.
Additionally, the report notes the preparatory steps for the 4th United Nations High-Level Meeting (UN HLM) on NCDs in September 2025, including the first WHO Global Oral Health Meeting and the Bangkok Declaration – No Health without Oral Health adopted by governments at that meeting. It also references the comprehensive baseline report of the WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan (2023 – 2030), which confirms that oral diseases now affect 3.7 billion people worldwide.
In response to this report, FDI and IADR delivered a statement calling on WHO Member States to prioritize measures to prevent and manage oral diseases at the 4th UN HLM on NCDs.
Promoting oral health through healthy maternal, infant and young child nutrition
WHO Member States reviewed a report on the six global nutrition targets (stunting, low birthweight, anaemia, childhood overweight, exclusive breastfeeding and wasting) . They also considered the opportunities to accelerate progress on the two targets that are on track or nearly achieved by 2025 – reducing childhood overweight and exclusive breastfeeding.
Through their joint statement, FDI and IADR reminded WHO Member States of the oral health benefits of breastfeeding, including a reduced risk of early childhood caries. They also called on WHO and Member States to recognize oral health benefits as a key component of healthy nutrition policies.
What’s next?
Despite taking place in the context of WHO’s reduced funding support, EB156 achieved its objective – which is to shape the agenda for the 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025. However, WHO Member States proposed 20 new decisions which require funding. Additionally, the discussions at EB156 addressed 19 previously adopted resolutions and decisions, and culminated new requests made by Member States.
Therefore, the EB156’s approval of resolutions and decisions was based on the stipulation that resolutions requiring WHO to launch new or expand existing programme of activities at significant cost would be reviewed and prioritized prior to the WHA. This is to determine the activities that should be approved in May, or alternatively, amended or delayed. FDI stands ready to support WHO and Member States in these efforts.