Andorra Health Minister Stresses WHO Role for Small States at World Health Assembly

Andorra's Health Minister Helena Mas attended the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva this week, where she underscored the World Health Organization's central role in reshaping global health policies.

The event, held at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, centred on the theme "Reconfiguring global health: a shared responsibility". In her address, Mas emphasised the OMS's vital support for small states. She highlighted the Small States Initiative, which creates a platform for microstates to exchange experiences, actions and synergies in health matters.

"Small countries, facing changing needs and limited resources, find interdependence, integration into international networks and cooperation not an option, but a necessity," Mas stated.

Mas outlined Andorra's main health policy lines and praised the Principality's involvement in global health forums. She noted that smaller nations can contribute expertise and flexibility to multilateral cooperation.

She also addressed a key challenge for Andorra and neighbouring countries: shortages of health professionals. The ministry is tracking the demographics of various professional groups and projecting human resource needs over the medium and long term. Working with professional colleges, the government is developing strategies to attract and retain talent, while boosting professional autonomy—particularly for nurses.

The Andorran delegation included Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Ferran Costa and public health physician Mireia Garcia from the Health Ministry.