Amid escalating violence in Gaza, WHO's Eastern Mediterranean head, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, called on the new US ambassador in Israel to advocate for lifting Gaza's blockade in order to allow critical medicines and aid to reach civilians. This position highlights WHO’s commitment to humanitarian principles and opposition to policies that exacerbate civilian suffering.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus publicly condemned the Israeli airstrike on a Gaza field hospital, urging adherence to international humanitarian law and protection for health workers and patients, emphasizing the need for a ceasefire.

The World Health Organization released a report detailing a 40% reduction in maternal deaths across Africa since 2000, highlighting an increase in skilled birth attendance and calling for further investment to meet Sustainable Development Goals. The report underscores ongoing challenges in rural and crisis-affected areas while emphasizing the critical role of health services in protecting vulnerable populations.

In the wake of a devastating magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Myanmar, WHO reported that at least three hospitals were completely destroyed and 22 additional facilities damaged, highlighting urgent healthcare needs and mobilizing international humanitarian support for affected communities.

WHO has issued new guidance aimed at transforming mental health policies globally, emphasizing human rights, community engagement, and the modernization of outdated service models to ensure inclusive, quality mental health care.

On October 19, 2023, the World Health Organization released a new publication outlining key regulatory considerations for the use of artificial intelligence in health. The guidelines emphasize ensuring safety, effectiveness, transparency, robust risk management, and mitigation of biases, aiming to protect patient data and promote responsible AI deployment in healthcare.

On October 9, 2023, WHO and OHCHR issued comprehensive guidelines on mental health that condemn coercive psychiatric practices and advocate for 'zero coercion' policies. The new guideline emphasizes accountability, the protection of patient rights, and a shift away from harmful involuntary treatments.

The World Health Organization and the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) have jointly launched a new guidance document aimed at reforming mental health care legislation to end human rights abuses and promote community-based care approaches. This initiative is aligned with international human rights obligations and seeks to replace coercive, institutionalized mental health practices with more dignified, rights-respecting alternatives.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus decried false claims that the pandemic accord is a power grab, clarifying that WHO will not be a party to the agreement and emphasizing the accord’s role in strengthening global pandemic preparedness. He compared these misleading claims to tactics historically used by industries like tobacco to derail effective public health measures.

At a press conference in Geneva on March 11, 2023, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus forcefully countered claims that a new global pandemic accord would allow the WHO to override national sovereignty, labeling such claims as 'fake news'. He emphasized that nations would retain full decision-making power over public health measures. The statement came amid ongoing negotiations for a global accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, and alongside updates on outbreak responses in Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea.

At the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly, WHO Member States approved a landmark decision to gradually increase assessed contributions to 50% of WHO’s core budget by 2030–31. This reform aims to secure sustainable and predictable funding while enhancing transparency, accountability, and governance within the organization.