Event highlights
Senior officials and experts from 10 Member States of the WHO European Region met in Ashgabat for the 2026 High-level Dialogue on Global Health Diplomacy.
The 3-day Dialogue provided a platform to strengthen national and regional skills in health diplomacy at a time when new and emerging health threats require coordinated, evidence-informed action across sectors and borders. It brought together high-level participants from 10 countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan – including representatives from ministries of health and foreign affairs, diplomats, WHO technical specialists, academics and invited experts.
Myratberdi Gayypov, Minister of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, emphasized Turkmenistan’s dedication to partnership and collective progress: “Turkmenistan attaches great importance to strengthening international cooperation for the benefit of public health. Hosting this Dialogue reflects our firm commitment to promoting peace, solidarity and mutual understanding in addressing shared health challenges. We highly value the long-standing collaboration with WHO and believe that strong, evidence‑based diplomacy can help all our countries move forward with confidence and unity”.
“In a world marked by uncertainty and fragmentation, health diplomacy is one of the strongest bridges between nations. Pandemics, antimicrobial resistance and humanitarian crises do not respect borders – no country can face them alone. Global health diplomacy is a strategic skill of the 21st century, as decisions shaping health are increasingly taken beyond ministries of health. That is why we bring health leaders and diplomats together: to help them use evidence to reach agreements and deliver real results,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “By hosting this High-level Dialogue during the International Year of Peace and Trust, Turkmenistan demonstrates how neutrality and partnership can advance global health, because where there is dialogue, there is trust – and where there is trust, solutions become possible.”
The programme was designed to deepen participants’ understanding of the tools and practices of health diplomacy in an increasingly polarized and unpredictable world, and enhance their skills in negotiation, strategic communication and evidence-based policy-making. It aimed to strengthen cooperation between the health and foreign policy sectors and to support a shared approach to tackling complex cross-border health challenges. The Dialogue also offered opportunities to exchange knowledge, build trust and develop regional connections.
The participants engaged in a combination of interactive lectures, expert-led discussions, case studies and simulations. The informal “fireside chats” with experienced diplomats and practitioners helped explore the evolving role of diplomacy in public health.
Priority themes also included approaches to preventing and controlling noncommunicable diseases through policy and diplomatic tools, and the role of bilateral, multilateral and humanitarian diplomacy. The participants also examined ways to strengthen engagement with regional organizations, parliaments, civil society and academic institutions.
The Dialogue was held under WHO/Europe’s flagship programme, Action for Health through Engagement, Advocacy and Diplomacy (AHEAD), developed by the WHO Representation Office to the European Union, at the initiative of Dr Kluge. It was hosted by the Government of Turkmenistan, highlighting the country’s strong commitment to multilateral cooperation and its leadership in global health diplomacy, particularly as the country assumes the Chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States in 2026, designated as the Year of Health.
The Dialogue was convened in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia.