Last week, World Physiotherapy was proud to represent the global physiotherapy profession at the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, contributing to high-level discussions shaping the future of rehabilitation, strengthening health systems, workforce development, and achieving universal health coverage.
Through meetings, side events, and collaborative engagement with global partners, the delegation helped ensure the voice of physiotherapy and rehabilitation remained visible within international health policy discussions, highlighting the essential role of rehabilitation in supporting functioning, recovery, participation, and quality of life across health systems worldwide.
World Physiotherapy delegation at WHA79
This year marked an important milestone for World Physiotherapy’s international engagement, with an expanded delegation participating in policy discussions, networking events, and strategic advocacy activities throughout the week.
Alongside World Physiotherapy president Mike Landry, CEO Sidy Dieye, and membership manager Birgit Mueller-Winkler, the delegation included the president of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, Rik Dawson, and the president of the French National Council of Physiotherapists, Pascale Mathieu, strengthening the profession’s representation within global health policy conversations and reinforcing World Physiotherapy’s commitment to collaborative international advocacy.
Throughout WHA79, World Physiotherapy brought the voice of the profession to discussions focused on strengthening rehabilitation services and improving health outcomes.
Strengthening global rehabilitation advocacy
As a member of the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA), Mike Landry delivered remarks on behalf of World Physiotherapy and the global physiotherapy profession at the WHPA side event, highlighting the importance of investing in the health workforce, strengthening interprofessional collaboration, and supporting sustainable health systems. This was complemented by a statement from Pascale Mathieu addressing the issues young professionals are facing.
The delegation also contributed to World Rehabilitation Alliance (WRA) events focused on strengthening the integration of rehabilitation into health systems and universal health coverage. Hosted by the World Health Organization, the WRA brings together global stakeholders working to advance rehabilitation policy, workforce development, financing, and equitable access to care.
Advancing rehabilitation and assistive technology
Across multiple meetings and events, recurring themes included the growing recognition of rehabilitation as an essential component of health systems, the importance of functioning and quality of life outcomes, and the need to ensure rehabilitation is integrated across all levels of care.
Discussions also explored the role of assistive technology in improving access to services and supporting participation and independence across the life course. Meetings with partners including ATscale highlighted the importance of global collaboration in strengthening access to assistive products and rehabilitation services, particularly in low income countries.
Delegates also discussed the increasing global focus on non-communicable diseases and chronic health conditions, alongside the growing recognition that health systems must support not only consider mortality and morbidity but also function as a third pillar for health indicators.
World Physiotherapy supported calls for rehabilitation to be integrated from the outset across emergency, critical, and operative care systems, reaffirming that rehabilitation should not be an afterthought, but embedded as a vital and routine standard of care.
Supporting a sustainable global health workforce
Throughout the week, the issue of workforce sustainability was raised, with discussions highlighting the challenges faced by health systems globally in recruiting and retaining skilled professionals.
Recurring themes included the need to better support students and early career professionals entering the health workforce, strengthen interprofessional collaboration, and create sustainable career pathways within healthcare systems.
Conversations also explored the ongoing challenge of workforce migration, with a focus on the updated WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel.
Delegates emphasised the importance of ethical international recruitment and long-term workforce planning to help ensure all countries can retain skilled health professionals and deliver sustainable care.
For World Physiotherapy, these discussions reinforced the importance of ensuring physiotherapists are included within global workforce planning, rehabilitation policy, and multidisciplinary approaches to strengthening health systems.
Rehabilitation and the future of universal health coverage
World Physiotherapy will continue working collaboratively with global partners, member organisations, and the wider global health community to strengthen recognition of rehabilitation within health systems worldwide.
Looking ahead to the 2027 United Nations High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage, the organisation remains committed to ensuring rehabilitation, functioning, and equitable access to care remain firmly on the global health agenda.
