The 78th session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for South-East Asia began in Colombo today, bringing together health leaders and experts from across the region to discuss key public health priorities. India’s Minister of State for Health, Anupriya Patel, is scheduled to arrive in Colombo later today to attend the plenary session tomorrow, underscoring India’s active role in advancing regional health cooperation and strengthening collective response mechanisms in South and South-East Asia.

The event will be attended by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, along with WHO’s Regional Director for South-East Asia, Dr. Catharina Boehme, and senior officials from eight member countries. The three-day event will focus on developing the region’s health policy framework for the coming years, with discussions on promoting healthy ageing through stronger primary healthcare, curbing tobacco consumption, expanding the Regional Health Emergency Fund, and tackling antimicrobial resistance. Key resolutions on major public health issues are expected to be adopted during the session.