While most healthtech events this year were buzzing about AI, data, and algorithms, the World Health Summit 2025 in Berlin took a strikingly different path.
With more than 4,000 in-person attendees and 40,000 online participants from 144 nations, the summit revolved around peace in health.
With the theme “Taking Responsibility for Health in a Fragmenting World,” WHS 2025 acknowledged that:
We cannot advance health without peace, and we cannot sustain peace without equitable, resilient health systems.
From war-torn regions to emerging economies, ministers and global health leaders echoed this message.
Here’s a recap of the event!
Key themes and discussions
Health and peace: Two sides of the same coin
One of the strongest threads of the summit was the intrinsic link between health and peace, championed by the WHO Global Health and Peace Initiative. They stressed how, in a divided world, the two must advance together.
Austin Demby, Sierra Leone’s Health Minister, captured it succinctly:
“Health is a major tool for peace. Investing in health is investing in peace.”
Budi Sadikin, from Indonesia, highlighted health’s unifying power:
“Health transcends religions, borders, and identities. Whoever you are, you deserve access to high-quality, affordable healthcare.”
And speaking from a conflict-zone perspective, Ukraine’s Deputy Health Minister Edem Adamanov reminded the audience of the frontline stakes:
“The whole world should be united to protect healthcare workers and facilities, to help this peace to survive.”
The convergence of these voices drove home the reality that health systems don’t exist in a vacuum. In conflict or fragility, they break down; in peace-oriented societies, they become foundational.
Women’s health: The cornerstone of progress
This year’s summit did not treat women’s health as a side topic. Instead, it positioned it squarely as a foundation for equity, prosperity, and global progress.
For too long, it has been chronically underfunded, a major human rights and economic misstep. The calls for change were unequivocal:
Kriti Sanon, UNFPA India’s Honorary Ambassador for Gender Equality, addressed the summit and stressed:
“Women’s health is not a side issue. It is the cornerstone of humanity’s progress, prosperity, and future.”
She called out a critical gap in medicine. The historical bias toward the “average male body” often leaves women’s health needs overlooked.
Diene Keita, Executive Director of UNFPA, reframed the issue as an economic and moral imperative:
“When we invest in women’s health, we invest in global wealth. It is the right thing to do, and it is the smartest investment we can make today.”
Hiroyuki Okuzawa, CEO of Daiichi Sankyo, added that fixing the system starts with inclusion:
“We must change the lack of female representation in clinical research and decision-making… and we at Daiichi Sankyo are committed to contributing to this goal.”
Global cooperation, innovation, and rethinking systems
In a divided world, collaboration and innovation are non-negotiable. Leaders laid out the blueprint for action:
Bernd Montag, CEO of Siemens Healthineers, spotlighted Germany’s global contribution:
“Germany is just 1% of the world’s population, yet we innovate for all eight billion people.”
He championed “strong partnerships across sectors” as the only way forward.
Ilona Kickbusch, a leading global health expert, flipped the script, urging humility and openness:
“We here in old Europe have much to learn about innovation and optimism from the Global South.”
Mónica García Gómez, Spain’s Health Minister, saw a chance for radical change:
“This is our opportunity to rethink the global health architecture and build more efficient systems.”
And Hadja Lahbib, a European Commissioner, left a note of hope:
“Our world has cracks, but it is not broken. We are in a transitional phase, and we will repair it together, making it stronger and more human.”
With over 400 speakers, including WHO’s Tedros and Germany’s Health Minister Nina Warken, the summit tackled everything from NCDs and climate change to digital health and equity, proving that fixing global health requires a united front.
Action over words: Major Reports and a Billion-Euro Commitment
The summit wasn’t just about talk. It delivered real action and insights, from new research to historic funding moves.
Global emotional health is in crisis, says Gallup’s new Report
Launched at WHS 2025, Gallup’s inaugural “State of the World’s Emotional Health” report states that peace and emotional well-being are linked.
This first-of-its-kind global survey painted a concerning picture:
- 39% of adults felt worried,
- 37% felt stressed,
- 26% felt sad,
- 22% felt angry, and
- 32% reported physical pain.
These numbers, gathered from 145,000 people across 144 countries, show that emotional distress is rising sharply. The report positions this widespread distress not just as a personal burden, but as a direct warning sign of societal fragility and instability.
Pandemic defense hinges on local healthcare, report warns
World Health Summit 2025 also unveiled the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) 2025 Report. It stresses that we cannot fight future pandemics without robust, well-funded local primary healthcare systems.
The report insists that these local systems are the non-negotiable foundation for crisis response. They’re the first line of defense in delivering care, building trust, and ensuring resilience when health emergencies strike. To protect the world, we must first invest in local clinics and community health.
Health: A Political Choice
The Health: A Political Choice publication series is a joint effort by the Global Governance Project, the WHO, and the World Health Summit. It asserts that better health outcomes depend on political will, not just medical breakthroughs.
Its core message is for global leaders to deliberately put Health in All Policies and rebuild public trust in science.
Germany’s billion-euro bet on global health
The highlight of opening night came from Germany. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), represented by Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan, announced a €1 billion pledge to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
“Every euro in the Global Fund pays off: it strengthens health systems worldwide and makes us all more resilient. This is how we save millions of lives. That’s why we must stand strong together.”
Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, hailed it as a “powerful signal of global solidarity,” while youth advocate Priscilla Ama Addo from Ghana movingly stated that such investments are “investing in our dreams and reminding us that we matter.”
The next generation takes the stage
The WHS 2025 summit made it clear that young leaders are non-negotiable for the future of health. Through a special Youth Group Opportunity, 26 youth groups from around the world brought their vital energy and fresh perspectives directly to the table.
Leaders like Horacio Barreda and Priscilla Ama Addo from Y+ Global demanded permanent, inclusive spaces for young people in health decision-making.
Closing thoughts: Breaking the bubble
As the summit wrapped up, Axel Radlach Pries, President of the WHS, left attendees with a powerful call: “We need to step out of the global health bubble.”
He stressed that health isn’t a standalone issue. It is the essential thread connecting peace, prosperity, and global cooperation.
Carsten Schicker, CEO of WHS, summed it up best:
“This summit showed what’s possible when diverse voices come together with a shared purpose. Let’s make this our starting point for a more inclusive, resilient, and cooperative global health architecture.”
-By Alkama Sohail and the AHT Team
