Live from the World Health Assembly

About this episode

This episode discusses critical debates at the World Health Assembly, including the Ebola outbreak and global health infrastructure reform.

Filmed live from Geneva, Switzerland, on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly, this episode of This Week in Global Development delves into the critical debates unfolding on the ground in Geneva. That includes the tense atmosphere following the World Health Organization ’s rare decision to proclaim a global health emergency over the latest Ebola outbreak, mounting fears regarding the virus tracking into dense urban centers, and how containment efforts are hindered by strict funding restrictions that leave the vast majority of voluntary budgets tied up. The discussion also looks at the highly anticipated — yet heavily criticized — joint strategy to reform global health infrastructure, capturing the frustration of analysts who feel the plan avoids essential conversations about institutional mergers. The behind-the-scenes maneuvering for the next WHO director-general selection enters the conversation as well, along with the complex legislative hurdles facing the African Medicines Agency as it strives to secure pharmaceutical independence across the continent. During the sponsored segment of the podcast, brought to you by PATH, Devex Executive Vice President and co-founder Alan…

People in this episode

Host: Alan Robbins

Guest: Dr. Melanie Saville

Topics covered

• global health
• Ebola outbreak
• health infrastructure reform
• WHO director-general selection
• African Medicines Agency
• funding restrictions

Keywords

• Ebola
• global health emergency
• funding restrictions
• WHO
• health infrastructure
• African Medicines Agency
• diagnostics

Sponsors

PATH

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: World Health Organization

Places: Geneva, Africa

More episodes of This Week in Global Development

• Development banks pivot strategies as global volatility deepens · June 11, 2026 · 30 min
• The latest on the Ebola outbreak response · June 4, 2026 · 30 min
• Can domestic resources and private capital fund development? · May 28, 2026 · 42 min
• Special edition: Early detection in Brazil is a game changer for lung cancer care · May 19, 2026 · 19 min
• What can we expect from the 79th World Health Assembly? · May 14, 2026 · 32 min
• Special edition: Turning sustainable energy into a viable asset class in Africa · May 11, 2026 · 21 min