World Health Summit 2025 Concludes in Berlin with Calls for Action on Peace and Health, and Increased Investment in Women’s Health

On the third day of the World Health Summit 2025 health ministers from Ukraine, Indonesia, and Sierra Leone called for more attention to the critical link between peace and health.

Ongoing conflicts around the world are devastating health systems, limiting access to care, and putting countless lives at risk. Violence against healthcare infrastructure not only disrupts life-saving services but also endangers patients and medical workers, deepening inequality and prolonging instability. In Ukraine alone, the WHO has verified more than 2,600 attacks on healthcare facilities since the start of the full-scale war.

At WHS 2025, Edem Adamanov, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine, stressed the importance of functioning health systems even in times of war: "Resilience for us is not just about endurance – it’s about growth. Despite the war, Ukraine’s health system keeps moving forward, proving that recovery can start even in the darkest times.”

Echoing this, Austin Demby, Minister of Health of Sierra Leone, emphasized the transformative power of health in fragile contexts: "Health is a major tool for peace, investing in health is investing in peace."

Women’s Health is Global Wealth

The final keynote session of the World Health Summit 2025 spotlighted the transformative potential of investing in women’s health.

“Women’s health is both a measure and a driver of collective progress. While women and girls represent half of the world’s population, their health remains chronically underfunded and underprioritized – an afterthought in research and healthcare design,” explained Diene Keita, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) during the Summit.

While global funding for sexual and reproductive health Research and Development (R&D) nearly doubled between 2018 and 2023, less than 1% of R&D is directed toward female-specific conditions beyond oncology. In fact, the burden of benign gynecologic diseases now exceeds that of malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV combined for women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries.

The discussion underscored that an investment of $300 million in women’s health R&D could yield $13 billion in economic return. Speakers from government, international institutions, philanthropy, and the private sector called for catalytic capital, innovative financing, and stronger delivery systems to scale impact.

World Health Summit 2025: Starting Point of a New Global Health Architecture

Over three days, the World Health Summit 2025 brought together leaders and changemakers from politics, science, the private sector, and civil society to catalyze collaborative and innovative solutions for key global health priorities.

• Participants: 4,000+ on-site in Berlin and 40,000+ online

• Countries represented: 144

• Speakers: 400+ experts from all sectors of global health

• Government representation: 23 Ministers and state secretaries from 18 countries

“The World Health Summit 2025 has shown what is possible when diverse voices come together with a shared purpose,” concludes Carsten Schicker, CEO of the World Health Summit. “This must be the starting point for building a more inclusive, resilient, and cooperative global health architecture, one that truly serves all people, everywhere.”

The World Health Summit: A Truly Global Movement for Health and Collaboration

The annual Summits in Berlin are complemented each year by a Regional Meeting held in a different part of the world, where regional health priorities take center stage.

“The World Health Summit continues to serve as the leading platform for global health dialogue, bringing together a broad range of perspectives to shape solutions for shared challenges. We will carry this momentum forward to the Regional Meeting in Kenya in April 2026, where local leadership and global collaboration will drive progress toward a more equitable and resilient health architecture,” emphasizes Axel R. Pries, President of the World Health Summit.

During WHS 2025 in a symbolic handover, Prof. Balvir Singh Tomar, Founder and Chancellor of NIMS University and International President of the WHS Regional Meeting 2025, handed the baton of the WHS Regional Meetings to the incoming WHS International President, Prof. Lukoye Atwoli, Dean of the Medical College, East Africa, at Aga Khan University. The Aga Khan University will host the next WHS Regional Meeting in Kenya, April 27–29, 2026.

Looking ahead to the Regional Meeting in 2026, Prof. Lukoye Atwoli says: “As the WHS Regional Meeting baton moves from New Delhi to Nairobi, we at the Aga Khan University are honored to convene leaders, innovators, and partners to address Africa’s health priorities. The Nairobi Regional Meeting will strengthen collaboration across regions and feed into the World Health Assembly and World Health Summit 2026, ensuring Africa’s perspectives shape the global health agenda.”

The next World Health Summit will take place from October 11 to 13, 2026, bringing once again together global health leaders to advance solutions for health worldwide.

About the World Health Summit

The World Health Summit is the leading platform for global health. It brings together stakeholders from politics, science, the private sector, and civil society to set the agenda for a healthier future. Founded in 2009, the WHS is held every October in Berlin and is organized by the WHS Foundation GmbH, a 100% subsidiary of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.