Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Netherlands have reaffirmed their partnership on global health security, emergency preparedness and response, resilient health systems, and sexual and reproductive health.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met Netherlands Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sjoerd Sjoerdsma on 30 September to discuss areas of continued cooperation under the Netherlands’ Global Health Strategy 2023–2030.

The Netherlands has maintained support for flexible and predictable financing for WHO’s emergency response work. Its contributions support health services, disease surveillance, outbreak control and medical supplies in crisis-affected settings, including Gaza, Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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The discussions also covered the ongoing Ebola response and access to essential healthcare for patients from Gaza. Both sides highlighted the importance of strengthening mechanisms that enable rapid financing and action when health emergencies emerge.

WHO and the Netherlands also addressed attacks on healthcare and stressed the need to protect health workers, patients and medical facilities, particularly in humanitarian settings.

The partnership includes cooperation on sexual and reproductive health and rights, with Dutch support contributing to research and evidence-based improvements in women’s health through WHO and its Human Reproduction Programme. Both sides agreed to continue working together on global health priorities, emergency response and strengthening international health cooperation.

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