WHO’s World Health Assembly Declares Rare Disease a Global Health Priority

Rare Daily Staff

The 78th World Health Assembly passed a resolution declaring rare diseases a global health priority—the first World Health Organization resolution to identify rare diseases as a global equity issue.

“The adoption of the WHA resolution is a landmark achievement, demonstrating to the world that rare diseases are a global health priority and that the unique challenges and inequities faced by people living with a rare or undiagnosed disease deserve to be recognized and addressed,” Rare Disease International, a global rare disease alliance that led the drive for the resolution, said in a statement following its passage.

The resolution recognizes that rare diseases can lead to significant physical, emotional, and financial hardship. It urges countries to integrate rare diseases into national health planning, improve diagnosis and care through universal health coverage, promote inclusive policies, and accelerate innovation, research, and access to affordable treatment.

It also mandates that the WHO develop a comprehensive 10-year global action plan on rare diseases, with measurable targets to guide progress toward equity, inclusion, and access to care for all affected individuals.

Rare Disease International said the next step will be to develop a global action plan to overcome the barriers to accessing diagnosis, treatment, and care. This plan will provide national governments with a tangible framework for action, including clear targets and accountability measures, to reach the Global Health 2035 Goals and make universal healthcare a reality.

“This vote transforms hope into hard policy,” said Daria Julkowska, coordinator of the European Rare Disease Research Alliance. “By tasking WHO with a decade-long roadmap, countries have acknowledged that no lab, clinic, or registry can succeed in isolation. The resolution puts collaboration—across borders, disciplines, and sectors—at the heart of delivering faster diagnoses and equitable therapies for people living with rare diseases.”