Global Leaders Commit to Health as a Cornerstone of Peace and Resilience at World Health Summit 2025
Berlin, Tuesday 14 October, 2025 – On day two of the World Health Summit, the leading platform for global health, global leaders reaffirmed their commitment to health as a political priority and a cornerstone of peace and resilience. Against the backdrop of geopolitical crises, they called for shared responsibility in shaping a healthier, more resilient world on the World Health Summit stage.
German Federal Health Minister, Nina Warken, emphasized the importance of constructive dialogue and cooperation in strengthening global health. She stated, “Germany is and remains a reliable and committed partner of the World Health Summit and also of the World Health Organization (WHO). In view of the current challenges, it is more important than ever to engage in constructive dialogue and work together to strengthen global health. The World Health Summit offers a good opportunity to deepen cooperation with international partners. Beyond that, we are also committed to consolidating international cooperation and strengthening institutions such as WHO. Germany will continue to lead in global health and international cooperation to overcome global health challenges.”
Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management and Commissioner for Equality, stressed the importance of taking political responsibility for health. She stated, “The European Union has made that choice – by strengthening its preparedness and response capacities, and by driving global solidarity through the new Global Health Resilience Initiative. In a world of fragmentation, the EU stands for cooperation, trust in science, and shared responsibility – because our health, our security, and our future depend on it.”
Leaders also emphasized that health security, sustainable financing, and global solidarity must remain central to building a stable and equitable future. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stated, “In our divided and turbulent world, investing in public health has never been more essential, both as the foundation of stable and secure societies, and as a bridge to peace between communities and nations. We call on all countries and partners to focus on what matters most: the people we serve, and to harness the power of science, partnership, and innovation to build a healthier, safer, and fairer future.”
New Gallup Report Revealed at World Health Summit: Peace, Health and Emotional Wellbeing Rise and Fall Together
A new Gallup report, launched in partnership with the World Health Summit, reveals that peace, health, and emotional wellbeing are intertwined. Drawing on 145,000 interviews across 144 countries and areas in 2024, Gallup finds that nearly four in ten adults worldwide reported experiencing a lot of worry or stress the previous day – hundreds of millions more than a decade ago. The report pairs Gallup’s World Poll data with the Institute for Economics & Peace’s Global Peace Index and Positive Peace Index to show how people’s emotional lives are connected to stability and health.
Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, stated, “Our work with the World Health Summit brings clarity to a simple truth: emotional wellbeing and peace are not separate pursuits. When one fails, the other follows. In less peaceful countries, people are far more likely to report sadness and anger, even after accounting for income differences.” Positive emotions such as laughter, enjoyment, and respect are less common in less peaceful societies and depend more on GDP. This is not the case for negative emotions, which remain strongly tied to fragile peace, suggesting that while peace reduces distress, it does not deliver a positive emotional dividend above and beyond GDP per capita.
Carsten Schicker, WHS CEO, underscored the importance of this partnership. He stated, “Gallup’s new data confirm what we at the World Health Summit see every day: Peace, health, and emotional wellbeing are inseparable. Emotional distress at a societal level is not just an individual burden; it is a warning sign for societal fragility and a call to collective action. By working together across sectors, we can turn evidence into solutions that strengthen resilience and stability worldwide. That is why the World Health Summit is proud to partner with Gallup. Together, we bring health to the center of the global agenda.”
New Global Report Shows: Global Health Security Hangs in the Balance in a Volatile and Uncertain World
A new global report launched at WHS 2025 outlines preparedness priorities to protect people worldwide from future pandemics and other health crises. The new Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) 2025 report calls for scaled-up investment in primary health care, real-time risk assessment, and international cooperation to ensure local and global communities are ready to prevent and respond to the next pandemic.
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, GPMB Co-Chair and former President of Croatia, stated, “In our increasingly volatile and uncertain world, real preparedness for pandemics and other health emergencies must be anchored in well-functioning and well-financed primary health care systems. Robust primary health systems reach deep into communities
