World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations for health. It was founded on 7 April 1948.

The highest governing body of WHO is the World Health Assembly. The Executive Board, which comprises representatives of 34 WHO Member States, serves as the organization's executive body. Belarus served on the WHO Executive Board from 2021 to 2024.

WHO's organizational structure includes six regional offices and more than 150 country offices.
WHO's activities in the European Region are coordinated by the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe), headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.

WHO/Europe coordinates regional cooperation, provides expert and technical support to Member States, and promotes the implementation of WHO regional policies and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Republic of Belarus is one of the founding members of WHO. The WHO Country Office has been operating in Minsk since 1994.

Priority areas of cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and WHO:

• Strengthening the national healthcare system;

• Development of primary health care;

• Improving epidemiological surveillance and enhancing preparedness for public health emergencies;

• Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of noncommunicable diseases;

• Prevention and control of infectious diseases, including HIV infection and tuberculosis;

• Development of digital healthcare and human resources in the industry.

Legal basis for cooperation:

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the World Health Organization on the establishment of technical advisory cooperation, dated 20 May 1999;

Biennial plans for cooperation between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus and the WHO Regional Office for Europe.

The Belarus-WHO Regional Office for Europe Cooperation Plan for 2025–2027 defines priority areas of cooperation:

strengthening the healthcare system; 

developing primary health care; 

prevention of infectious and non-communicable diseases; 

improving epidemiological surveillance; digitalization of healthcare;

development of human resources; 

strengthening preparedness for public health emergencies and ensuring universal health coverage in accordance with WHO priorities and the national healthcare policy of the Republic of Belarus.

The coordinating body for interaction with the WHO is the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus.