The 156th Session of the WHO Executive Board will be held at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, from 3 to 11 February 2025.
Skin diseases contribute significantly to the global burden of disease. However, their primarily non-fatal nature leads to an underestimation of their potentially serious health and socioeconomic impact. They can be exacerbated by and in turn exacerbate the impact of existing trends such as climate change, disaster relief, economic growth, and sustainable development. Although individual conditions have been targeted1 , efforts are lacking to recognize the health burden of skin diseases within an integrated and holistic approach. Holistically addressing skin diseases will allow for better health outcomes, access to remedies, and funding, especially for vulnerable groups.
Under Pillar 1 of Universal Health Coverage (SDG indicator 3.8.1), this proposal aims to accelerate programmatic action to reduce the incidence, prevalence, morbidity, disability, and death from skin diseases. This document has been co-developed by a broad coalition of civil society organizations including patient organizations, healthcare professionals, academia, and philanthropies which are committed to taking comprehensive action on the global public health impact of skin diseases. It seeks to provide a summary of the key issues facing vulnerable individuals and communities and a set of potential actions to help support and inform Member States on a potential agenda item for the Executive Board of the World Health Organization.