The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to convene its first global oral health meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, from November 26 to 29, 2024. The event, hosted by the Government of Thailand, aims to accelerate progress toward universal health coverage (UHC) for oral health by 2030.
The primary objective of this meeting is to reaffirm the political commitment of WHO Member States to oral health, following the adoption of the 2021 resolution on oral health (WHA74.5). It will also serve as a preparatory step for the 4th UN High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) of the UN General Assembly on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), scheduled for 2025.
The event will consist of a three-day technical meeting featuring WHO representatives, national oral health leaders, and experts. This will be followed by a high-level session where health ministers and senior officials from non-State organizations will discuss strategies for implementing the Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023–2030. Side events will also take place alongside the main sessions.
Around 400 participants are expected to attend in person.
As preparations for the 2025 UNHLM on NCDs continue, this global oral health meeting aims to:
Strengthen the capacity of health ministries to fulfill commitments made under the 2021 WHO resolution on oral health (WHA74.5).
Accelerate the implementation of the Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023–2030 within broader NCD and UHC initiatives.
Reaffirm Member States’ commitment to implementing the Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023–2030.
Discuss the six strategic objectives, 100 actions, 11 global targets, and monitoring framework of the plan.
Bring together governments, UN agencies, funding bodies, civil society organizations, researchers, and philanthropies to collaborate on supporting the action plan.
The meeting aims to produce several key outcomes, including:
Development of national oral health roadmaps aligned with the Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023–2030.
The “Bangkok Declaration on Oral Health,” which will reaffirm Member States’ commitment to oral health and contribute to the WHO Director-General’s report for the 2025 UNHLM on NCDs.
Formation of a global coalition on oral health, featuring commitments from Member States and partners to implement the action plan.
A comprehensive meeting report with recommendations on how countries can achieve UHC for oral health.
The upcoming WHO Global Oral Health Meeting represents a major step in the global effort to improve oral health and integrate it into broader NCD and UHC strategies. With global participation and high-level commitments, the event aims to pave the way for stronger action at the 2025 UN General Assembly, reinforcing the need for a unified approach to tackling oral health challenges worldwide.
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