As the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) gets underway in Geneva, neurology patient advocacy communities across the globe are closely monitoring discussions relating to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Primary Health Care (PHC), and global health system reform.
For people living with neurological conditions across Europe and globally, WHA79 represents an important opportunity to accelerate implementation, accountability, and investment following the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health. The OneNeurology Partnership welcomes the increasing recognition of NCDs within broader global health discussions, including commitments relating to health financing, integrated care, equity, and accountability.
In particular, we welcome:

• renewed focus on implementation of the Political Declaration outcomes;
• recognition of stroke as a major contributor to disability and mortality;
• discussions on strengthening Primary Health Care and Universal Health Coverage;
• acknowledgement that health must be viewed as an investment rather than a cost;
• and recognition of the need for more integrated, people-centred health systems.

At the same time, the neurology community remains deeply concerned that progress on NCD targets remains off track globally, with major inequalities in access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care continuing to impact millions of people living with neurological conditions.

Neurological conditions remain one of the leading causes of disability and poor health worldwide, yet neurology continues to be under-prioritised across many national and international health agendas. This includes gaps in access to essential medicines, rehabilitation services, mental health support, specialist care, and community-based services.

OneNeurology therefore call on Member States and global health leaders to:

• ensure neurological conditions and brain health are fully integrated into NCD, UHC, and PHC implementation frameworks;
• strengthen investment in neurological services, workforce capacity, research, prevention, rehabilitation, and long-term care;
• reduce financial hardship and out-of-pocket costs for people living with neurological conditions;
• ensure meaningful engagement of people with lived experience in policy design, implementation, and accountability mechanisms;
• strengthen data collection, monitoring frameworks, and accountability measures relating to neurological conditions;
• and ensure global health architecture reforms include strong civil society participation and safeguards against conflicts of interest.

The neurology community also strongly supports greater integration across health systems, recognising that siloed approaches cannot adequately address the growing burden of neurological conditions worldwide. Integrated, person-centred systems are essential to achieving equitable access to care and delivering on commitments made at both EU and global level.

As WHA79 progresses, the OneNeurology Partnership look forward to continued engagement with policymakers, WHO leadership, civil society organisations, healthcare professionals, researchers, and people living with neurological conditions to help ensure that commitments now translate into measurable action and meaningful improvements in people’s lives.

The time for commitments alone has passed. The global neurology community is calling for delivery, accountability, and action.

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On Friday 22nd May 2026, from 13:00 – 14:20hrs, OneNeurology, with WHO Non-State Actor partners the MS International Federation (MSIF), the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE), and Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), and the support of the Italian Ministry of Health, will host an official side event during the World Health Assembly in Geneva, entitled “Delivering on Brain Health: Implementing IGAP and the Political Declaration on NCDs.” The meeting will take place at the  WHO Headquarters in Geneva and will also be available to view online.