Why in NEWS
The 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted a landmark resolution recognizing skin diseases as a global public health priority, impacting over 1.9 billion people worldwide.
Key Terms / Concepts
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| WHA | World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of WHO |
| LMICs | Low- and Middle-Income Countries, where skin disease burden is highest |
| AMR | Antimicrobial Resistance, growing concern in skin infections |
| Skin of Colour | Focus on research inclusive of diverse skin tones |
| National Registries | Databases for better tracking of skin conditions |
News in Simple Terms
For the first time, skin health has been declared a global public health priority by the World Health Assembly. The resolution, led by African nations like Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Togo, aims to shift focus from cosmetic concerns to real public health, equity, and dignity issues—especially for the 1.9 billion affected, mostly in LMICs.
Key Features of WHA Resolution on Skin Health
| Focus Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Global Action Plan | To be developed by 2027 (WHA-80) with goals in prevention, detection, and resilience |
| Surveillance & Diagnostics | Strengthening AMR response, climate-related skin issues, and diagnostic tools |
| Primary Care Integration | Urges skin care inclusion in primary health systems and improved frontline capacity |
| Inclusive Research | Encourages research inclusive of underrepresented populations and skin tones |
| Access & Insurance | Push for better access to medicines and advocacy for insurance inclusion |
India’s Role & Opportunity
| Domain | Potential Action |
|---|---|
| Public Healthcare | Expand dermatology services in primary health centres |
| Research | Boost studies on neglected tropical skin diseases |
| Medical Training | Integrate skin health in primary care curriculum |
| Insurance Advocacy | Push for coverage of chronic skin conditions |
In a Nutshell
Mnemonic: SKIN CARE
- Surveillance
- Knowledge-based action plan
- Inclusive research
- National registries
- Clinical integration
- AMR response
- Resilience
- Equity
Prelims Practice Questions
- Which of the following is true about the 78th World Health Assembly?
A) It declared cancer a global public health priority
B) It adopted a resolution on skin health as a global priority
C) It is an annual event organized by UNICEF
D) It passed a binding treaty on antimicrobial resistance - ‘Skin of Colour’ research focus in the WHA resolution aims at:
A) Reducing cosmetic skin procedures
B) Studying pigmentation disorders in animals
C) Ensuring research includes all skin tones
D) Promoting fairness creams in tropical countries - Which of these countries led the WHA resolution on skin health?
A) India and China
B) USA and UK
C) Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria
D) Germany and Brazil
Prelims Answers with Explanation
| Qn | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | WHA-78 marked the first global prioritization of skin diseases |
| 2 | C | Research inclusive of different skin types is a core goal |
| 3 | C | Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Togo were lead sponsors |
