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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
The WHO is developing a 10-year global action plan on rare diseases, set for review at the World Health Assembly in 2028. Driven by a 2025 resolution, the plan aims to tackle diagnostic delays, fragmented care, and inequitable access faced by millions worldwide. A public discussion paper drops in late 2026, with drafts and consultations to follow.
The WHO is rolling out a structured, multi-year process to develop a comprehensive 10-year global action plan on rare diseases, following a mandate from World Health Assembly resolution WHA78.11 (2025). The plan will include strategic objectives, global targets, and an accountability and monitoring framework — with the final version up for consideration at the Eighty-first World Health Assembly in May 2028.
Rare diseases affect millions globally, often causing multi-organ complications, disabilities, and premature death. People living with these conditions routinely face diagnostic delays, fragmented care, limited treatment access, financial hardship, and social stigma — challenges the action plan aims to directly address.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: Rare diseases have long been underprioritized on the global health agenda. This WHO-led action plan represents a landmark step toward coordinated, equity-focused care for an often-overlooked patient population.
